SKOWHEGAN — Wednesday was a special day for Sydney Ames.

First of all, it was her birthday — she turned 12 on Dec. 12, 2012. Then her mother showed up at school with a T-shirt with lettering that said “I turned 12 on 12-12-12.”

She suspected there might also be a “surprise” party with family and friends later in the day.

After all, the sixth-grader at Margaret Chase Smith Elementary School said, in slightly more than a week — on Dec. 21, 2012, when the 5,000-year Mayan calendar expires, the world is supposed to end — and she may as well party while she can.

“It’s actually pretty special because it only happens once in a lifetime, really, unless you live to be really old,” she said of her unique birthday.

Wednesday was the last time calendar dates will turn up in succession for almost another century. That will be on Jan. 1, 2101, when it will be 1-1-1.

Sydney is the daughter of Lori and Bradley Ames of Skowhegan. She plays basketball, soccer and softball and has two older sisters, Breanna, 22, and Lexi, 19, who are students at Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, where  Lori Ames also studies health.

As for the world coming to an end Dec. 21, Sydney said she doesn’t believe it.

Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com


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