FORT WORTH -- Twins Evan and Miranda Smith narrowly missed being born at noon, which they think would have made their golden birthday even more totally awesome.
The twins, who live in Benbrook, are turning 12 on 12-12-12. Their friends, twins Jackson and Nicholas Henninge, also reach the big 12 today.It's the last of the iconic calendar dates in which the day, month and year align. That won't happen again until the turn of the century in 2101. The date, considered lucky by some, is drawing brides and grooms to tie the knot and adding an extra cause for celebration for anybody turning 12."We each want to make it the best birthday ever because it is a special birthday," Miranda said. "It's our lucky day."Tarrant County officials say they've noticed an increase in the number of applications for marriage licenses. And county judges are scheduled to perform at least 115 weddings, with the most coveted time slots at noon and 12:12 p.m."I just think it's the novelty of the date," said Tarrant County Clerk Mary Louise Garcia. "Any days that have that sequential numerical order you tend to get spikes," she said. "Maybe it will be easier for husbands to remember."Doctors at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth are planning to induce labor this morning for an expectant mother who chose the date after doctors told her she could have the procedure any day this week."Patients are superstitious when it comes to births of babies," said Darren Tate, an obstetrician. "They want a child born on a relative's birthday. They want to avoid Friday the 13th. We wouldn't induce somebody until it's time to be induced but all things being equal we would try to accommodate someone." It a phenomena that occurred on Nov. 11, 2011, or 11-11-11, when brides and grooms, new parents, birthdays and even gamblers hoped the unique date would bring them luck and happiness.Couples packed Tarrant County courthouses. One justice of the peace married five couples at 11:11 a.m. Hospitals delivered babies at a rapid pace and folks bought lottery tickets and tried their luck at casinos.For all the hoopla about 12-12-12, the Henninge twins are delaying their birthday party until the weekend because of school and sports activities. And the Smith twins don't plan to celebrate together. Miranda and her friends are heading to a movie at the mall, and her brother is planning an outing at Six Flags Over Texas.The Smith and Henninge twins met in a class of eight students at a Fort Worth preschool. Their moms noticed the children shared a birthday."I said, 'You do the cupcakes and I'll do the cookies,'" said Susan Torres, the Smith twins' mom. "On that day, half the class turned four."The Smith kids opened one gift each night for the 12 days leading up to their birthday. And their mom expected to surprise them with 12 balloons in their bedroom this morning."I was trying to figure out how to make this birthday different because it will only happen one time," Torres said. "It has all these things of being lucky, with the golden birthday, the 12-12-12 and it being the year of the dragon. I feel like it's doubly special."This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives.Jessamy Brown, 817-390-7326Twitter: @jessamybrown
Tarrant County weddings on 12-12-12
Precinct 1, Tarrant County Courthouse Fort Worth: 19
Precinct 2, Arlington Subcourthouse: 25-30
Precinct 3, Northeast Subcourthouse: Hurst: 27
Precinct 4, Northwest Subcourthouse: Lake Worth: 21
Precinct 6, Southwest Subcourthouse, Fort Worth: 13
Precinct 7, Mansfield Subcourthouse: 7
Precinct 8, Poly Subcourthouse, Fort Worth: 3
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