Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

DiNoto-Leap-Year-birthday

Full Text:

His Day Is Leap Day!

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

This week, Chris DiNoto, a fifth grader at Head O'Meadow School, will

celebrate his third birthday. A child prodigy? Well... not exactly.

"I've been around for 12 years, but since Leap Year Day comes every four

years, I'm three years old," joked Chris, whose birthday is February 29. "I

like it because it's different."

During the years when the calendar drops the date, Chris and his family

celebrate the last weekend in February. Although he tends to "make out like a

bandit" at each celebration, Leap Years are particularly fun. For instance one

of his cousins sent him a card this year with the sentiment "Happy Third

Birthday," and the retired bank president where his father had worked always

calls the youngster on Leap Day.

"Chris was breeched and two weeks overdue - he was trouble from the start,"

laughed his mom. "But he's worked out nicely." Mary Beth and John DiNoto moved

to Castle Hill Road right after Chris was born, and later had another son,

Alex, who is now 5.

Chris enjoys hockey, skateboarding, riding bikes, and playing with his

neighbors next door. He has a little dog named Annie, who is also three.

Following in his uncle's footsteps, Chris hopes to work for NASA either as an

engineer or an astronaut. "I like history - we have these pretty cool books at

school," he said. "And I like rockets and stuff."

For his birthday this year, Chris would like a few CDs by Sting and The

Eagles. On Leap Day, he and ten of his friends played Laser Tag and ate pizza.

He's quite philosophical about growing old, but then again, he has an

advantage over the rest of us.

"When I'm old, I'll be young," said Chris. "When I'll a hundred and I'll be

25."