And make it we did.
What a night, what a gala gig of pure delight, where the stars came out to play and right there amongst it all was our table, number 27; all 12 stars of us sparkling and twinkling with eyes wide open and smiles even wider.
"Wow! Is this how the other half lives?"
It may have been their first thought when they arrived, but the departing korero when we left the bright lights of Venice was how kind and caring the other half are.
The other half who emptied their pockets and filled our hearts with a new-found belief in the work we do, especially the many kind-hearted individuals who came up during the night and thanked us and we, in turn, could thank them.
What was going on in the hearts and minds of my own staff on Saturday night at ASB Arena?
Could they comprehend the kindness shown by so many on the night? I guess I will find out today as we regroup for our Monday morning team talk and listen to the tales told of their night in Venice.
For a couple of our crew, the wheels on the bus went around too fast and they couldn't keep up with all the free-flowing refreshments and I am sure they will be getting the raspberries right about now.
As usual I could not help being the class clown and trumping the other masks in our group and nearby tables with one of Donald himself.
Nor could I help enjoy watching my newest high-heeled staff member being able to take his mask of sexuality off and be the gay dad he is, decked out in his finery and holding on to his champagne flute with his polished nails and pointed pinkie.
It was important for us to be there among the community kingpins on a night where we, Te Tuinga Whanau, were honoured to be one of the three recipients of The Skin Centre Charity Trust Ball.
I have been fortunate to play in the A-lister game, not because of my own social standing, but more to do with the rich and famous I had worked with back in the day, where the champagne and caviar flowed all night like a Memorial Park fountain.
Not so for most of my staff who walked into the sparkling foyer of ASB on Saturday night. It was always going to be a notte da ricordare - a night to remember.
To watch them watching the evening unfold was akin to taking your kids to Rainbow's End theme park or Kelly Tarlton's aquarium for the very first time.
Ours was a table of pure joy personified, as were the other 50 tables full of more bow ties than Peter Dunne's wardrobe, and more glamorous gowns than a night at the Oscars; where the rich and the outrageous roam.
I read an interesting interview recently of a wealthy rich-lister who was facing death and when asked about his most memorable moments he was surprised in himself at his answers.
Surprised because they all revolved around what he had given more than what he had gained and would take with him.
You can't put a price on happiness, or kindness for that matter, but you can reconcile the value of giving to others who have never tasted the fruits of wealth, or the privilege in life to have more than enough.
They say there is no such thing as a free lunch or that you can't always get what you need in life. But sometimes, like last Saturday night, you get more than what you need in so many different ways, most of them by the generosity of spirit shown by kind-hearted fellow human beings.
Cost of ticket - $200.
Number attended - 500 plus.
Top item auctioned - $21,000 (day trip for 15 aboard traditional Hawaiki Rising waka - with full French/Maori chef).
Benefit to community - Priceless.
tommykapai@gmail.com
