FOLEY, Ala. - If it was 1961, Brenda Shambo, city of Foley receptionist, would have been born March 1.

However, she was born in 1960, which means she technically only has had 12 birthdays. That is because she was born Feb. 29.

Shambo grew up in Orange beach and now lives in Silverhill. She has been a city of Foley employee for four years. She greets residents, fellow city employees and government officials as they enter the front office of Foley City Hall and the Foley Civic Center and are welcomed by a smiling face behind a transparent window.

However, not many who come through the doors and exchange kind words with Shambo know she is one of the few to be born on the day that occurs only once every four years.

Next calendar year, 2012, will be the next Leap Year, and Shambo will get to celebrate her actual birthday.

"Twelve and three-fourths," Shambo said when asked what her age was. "I have a real birthday next year.

"But I'm 51 years old."

The Foley Onlooker sat down with Shambo to learn a little more about growing up, when she celebrates her birthday in years when February does not have a 29th day, how she celebrates her birthday during Leap Years and what she says when people ask for her age.

Q: When do you actually celebrate your birthday?

A: That's what is funny. People always ask, "Well, when you do have a birthday?" I get presents and cards on Feb. 28 and March 1 because people don't know what to do…When I was younger, my mom always said I was born in February, so it was always Feb. 28. My stepdad always told me I didn't have a "real" birthday, so I had to draw it in on the calendar for it to be real and have one.

Q: What was it like in school? Did kids think it was cool?

A: Oh, everybody always remembered my birthday.

Q: Do you celebrate the "real" birthday in a special way?

A: My husband tries to make it extra special. I don't know what he's got up his sleeve (next year).

Q: Do many co-workers know when your birthday is?

A: Oh yeah. Once a month we have a birthday luncheon for everybody's birthday in that month. I headed that.

Q: When people ask your age, what do you tell them?

A: They always tease me at optimists for that. I say I'm 51 years old.

Q: Do you ever say or think of saying your actual birthday?

A: Yes. Sometimes it gets brought up.