12-year-old celebrates diamond birthday

Posted: Dec. 10, 2012

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Stefani Rose Watson

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Stefani Rose Watson

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Wednesday is brought to you by the number 12. While all kinds of people celebrate birthdays every day of the year, and while everyone thinks their birthday is special, Wednesday's is just a little more so. This week, the stars - well, the numbers - align, with three 12s representing the date: 12/12/12. It's the last repeating date any of us will see, as the cycle won't repeat again until the 2100s.

Wednesday will be even more notable for those born Dec. 12, 2000: They will be turning 12 on 12/12/12. That's 12 to the fourth power. … I think. One local young lady is among those celebrating her "diamond birthday."

Stefani Rose Watson, a student at Nature Hill Intermediate School, learned from a teacher last year that this year would be all about the number 12. "We all thought wow, that's pretty cool," she said.

Stefani is not alone in her big 12 anticipation. While others might have chalked up 12 years a long time ago, they're still celebrating the day. A 12.12.12. Birthdays Facebook page was created at the beginning of the month. On Friday the page had 1,275 likes from people planning a special 12 day. "Don't know if it is just me or if any of you 12/12er's feel the excitement building? This is gonna be the best birthday cake ever!" posted one person.

Others are sharing plans on how they will celebrate, how old they will be. One poster wrote, "Hey, I'll be 69. It's going to be a good day. I just Googled it and found that the Maya celebrate it as a national holiday."

According to bodymindspiritjourneys.com, which talks about Mayan traditions, "December 2012 is being looked upon as a significant spiritual event and a momentous shift in the collective consciousness of the planet." Others are planning weddings, special events - or are preparing for doomsday. (Some interpretations of the Mayan calendar indicate the world will end on Dec. 21 this year.)

But for Stefani, it's all about being a 12-year-old girl and having fun.

She has already done some precelebrating, as her grandma took her to get her ears pierced.

So maybe earrings would be a good birthday gift, I asked. "Sure," said Stefani.

Or even better, maybe her friends could bring her a special "12" gift: a jersey of her favorite Packer, who so happens to quarterback Aaron Rodgers - No. 12.

Rodgers' doesn't celebrate his birthday on Dec. 12, but he does have a 12th-month birthday. He celebrated Dec. 2, and marked the occasion by leading the Packers to a win over the Minnesota Vikings, putting the team at 8-4. (Add those together and you get 12!)

A quick Google search to see which stars will blow out birthday candles along with Stefani didn't uncover anyone she might recognize.

There is Frank Sinatra, OK, no candles for him, but his birthday is Dec. 12; actress Jennifer Connelly; former "Price is Right" host Bob Barker; '80s pop star Sheila E.; and TV's "Blossom" Mayim Bialik.

Stefani will carry on the 12 frenzy even past her official big day, with plans to celebrate on the weekend. Stefani and her girlfriends will get their nails done and do other 12-year-old girlie stuff, according to her "auntie," Brenda Pagel. Brenda said she and Stefani's mother, Denise, are trying to figure out something to do with the number to commemorate the diamond birthday.

"Maybe get her a dozen special birthday cookies," or a special charm to commemorate the day and year, she suggested.