LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Delvin Zeiders is a resident of Masonic Village in Lancaster County.
He lives with his wife of 10 years and is celebrating his birthday as a young man at heart.
“It’s been a long 92,” Zeiders said.
Born on Feb. 29, 1932, Zeiders has celebrated his birthday a little differently than others over the past nine decades.
“My parents said, ‘You’re special, you only have a birthday every four years.' Yes, but I should be getting presents,” Zeiders said.
Although he looks 92, Zeiders is technically just 23 years old.
“People look at me like I’m strange and maybe I am, but that’s alright,” Zeiders said.
Also living just up the road in West Donegal Township is Mary Zacharias.
“I lived in a hometown down in Virginia, Edmund Virginia, they only had about 600 people in the whole town, so everybody knew anybody, so everybody knew how old I was,” Zacharias said.
She’s celebrating her 22nd birthday with her husband, Bob, of 40 years.
The couple raised seven kids together and have more than 10 great-grandchildren.
While her life hasn’t technically been long, it has been fulfilling.
“Try to stay happy, try to stay positive about everything you do, and get involved in things you can get involved with,” Zacharias said.
Although Zacharias and Zeiders's birthdays come once every four years.
They both find their own ways to celebrate.
“Doesn’t feel any different than any other day,” Zacharias said.
“It doesn’t matter if your birthday is the 29th or if it’s the 1st, it’s still your day and I think that’s been my philosophy for many years,” Zeiders said.
The next leap year will happen in 2028.