Since my husband and I were juniors in high school we have always been together on New Year’s Eve. It’s not exactly a superstition (some believe that whatever you do on December 31st, you’ll keep doing throughout the next year), but it is certainly a tradition. The year I had a babysitting job, he found out where, and he showed up at midnight, to keep the tradition going.
So since December 1955, when we danced in the Engroff basement to Teresa Brewer’s  hit “Till I Waltz Again With You,”  New Year’s has always been important to us.
Though we like parties, we also like to just sit together, review the year, and watch the Times Square ball drop. Better yet, when we were Moravians, some 40 years ago, the  it Watch Night,and everyone picked a verse from the offering plate to be their Watch Word for the New Year.

We’re Methodists now, at the church on the corner of Nassau and Vandeventer (Princeton United Methodist) and I just learned to my delight that our church is going to have its own Watch Night service, as part of its Saturday Evening Gathering, As below:
“On New Year’s Eve we will have a special Watch Night Service followed by a New Year’s Eve Celebration.  In the tradition of John Wesley’s Watch Night services, we will review the year that was, take stock in where we are now and commit ourselves to the year ahead,’ says one of the pastors, Trey Gillette. Immediately following the service, there will be a celebration of food, fellowship and fun. Those attending are encouraged to bring a dish or treat to share.  There will also be music, games and even karaoke for the brave and bold. The Service begins at 5 p.m. and festivities will conclude by 8 p.m.

 “If you’ve never had the chance to come to the Saturday gathering, this will be a great opportunity to see what it is all about,” says Gillette. All are welcome!

Teresa Brewer is long forgotten on the hit parade. Deservedly so in my opinion. Any one who has the gall to sing about waltzing to a tune in 4/4 time deserves to be forgotten. But I still remember her on New Year’s Eve and am thankful to still be here.