13 going on 50-something
Wendy said that her loved ones ensure that every leap year birthday is extra special for her.
Leap year baby Wendy McFarlane of Rynfield celebrates her first year of being a teenager (13) this year and dedicates this birthday and article to her late father who died in 2016.
“I was his favourite child. This interview is more than an interview, it is in commemoration of my dad,” Wendy told the City Times.
Her eldest child, Darryll-Ann, said they are planning to do something special for her mom this year, but the details are still a secret.
“I celebrate my birthday every other year either on February 28 or March 1,” Wendy said.
The soon-to-be 52-year-old said when she celebrated her real 21st birthday on February 28, it did not feel like she really turned 21.
“Therefore, when I turn 21 in leap years, I will be 84 years old and I plan to have a big party,” she said with a giggle.
Wendy reminisced on some of her leap year birthdays.
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• 1980: I turned 12 (three years) and I resided in Cape Town where a local newspaper featured an article on me.
• 1984: I was 16 (four years) attended school at Wordsworth High and the principal and staff made me collect a dummy sweet.
• 1988: I celebrated my 20th birthday (five years) in Johannesburg because the Star newspaper hosted a party for all the leap year babies.
• 2012: I was 44 (11 years) and featured in a City Times article.
“On one of my teen birthdays, some friends and I got together and threw washing powder in one of the local fountains, the foam was all over the grass – one of my more rebellious moments in life,” she joked.
Benoni has always been home to her.
“I was born in Cape Town but moved to Benoni when I was 15 years old. I moved back to Cape Town when I turned 22, returned to Benoni when I was 29 and have never left since.
“Nobody ever really leaves Benoni.”
Wendy marks her marriage to her husband, David McFarlane, and three children, Darryll-Ann, Cameron and Scott as some of her greatest achievements.
“I also have a handsome grandson, Jamie Jansen van Rensburg (2),” she said.
“Can you believe it? I was a granny at 12 years old.”
Being born in a leap year not only comes with jokes from friends, it also comes with being picked on by your loved ones.
“There was a year that my daughter turned nine and I turned eight, so she was older than me.
“Then my son (Cameron) turned seven and I turned nine, so I was older by only two years.”
