22 February—George Washington was actually born on 11 February 1731. But don’t let it bother you. Because that was according to the old Julian calendar. While most European countries, being pope-fearing Catholics, had adopted the more accurate Gregorian calendar right after Pope Gregory XIII told them to do it in 1582, Protestant, staunchly anti-Catholic, reactionarily traditional, overly paranoid Great Britain didn’t get around to it until 1752. Even though it was a popish plot, to be sure.

For 170 years, Britain was thus out of sync with Europe. Kind of like the United States under the fat thumb of Donald Trump is currently out of sync with the world. And humanity and reality.

So by 1752 the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars had grown to such an extent that His Majesty King George II’s Government finally saw the light and went full Gregorian. That meant moving the Julian “legal” new year from 25 March [sic] to the Gregorian 1 January and dropping 11 days. Thus 2 September 1731 became 14 September 1732 in Britain and her colonies.

And that, children, is why we celebrate George Washington’s birthday on 22 February and this year he’d be 294 years old.

Believe it or not, narcissism is a common trait among presidents and politicians in general. Really. And, for the record, George Washington is said to have been among the more narcissistic American presidents. Modest, humble, reserved George Washington? Yes indeed. But of course GW’s narcissism was healthy and secret, as befits any American president and especially the Father of His Country.

Washington certainly was ambitious, conscious of his image, calculating, and sensitive to criticism. And he could be temperamental and a showman when necessary. But unlike you know who, GW obviously went to pains and was eminently successful in keeping his narcissism in check. That’s why he’s remembered as a great yet humble soldier, statesman, and thoroughgoing mensch.

Thomas Jefferson notably called George Washington “a wise, a good, and a great man.” And that’s what counts.

So Happy Birthday, George . . .