Page 8 - Priorities #30 2005-April

Fairytales Can Come True— And They Will!
If you remember a story that began, “Once upon a time...long, long ago...in a faraway kingdom...” you will feel as though you have been transported to that fairytale place when you enter Auction 2005. It begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 7 at the Hotel Sofitel on Redwood Shores.
Guests will feel a part of that imaginary time as they walk through the gardens of the township far outside the castle walls. The castle glimmers in the distance, but up close are thickets and flowers, some surprises that make the town square come alive, and costumed characters from the pages of a children’s book.
In fact, a special children’s book will be available in the silent auction—an early edition of a beautifully illustrated storybook, priced under $100 and of collector quality.
Before you get down to the business of helping to make the Priory community’s wishes come true, though, take a minute to savor the colors—bright silks and brilliant flowers—and the music by Broceliande, a professional quartet of which Priory Orchestral Director is the cellist. The costumed musicians will be playing light and cheery Renaissance and Celtic airs that sustain the mood of a lovely
long-ago afternoon.
You can have fun guessing the story
being illustrated as you hop from room to room in the silent auction. As always, a wide range of delectable treats will tempt you to grab that pencil, bid high, and beat the competition for those special items
you can’t resist.
Auction chairs Cindy and Wayne Davison encourage you to go
with that impulse. “Bidding at the auction is a way of giving to the school. When you bid more than you might normally spend, you are giving much-needed support to the Priory and getting a thank-you gift in return,”
Wayne said.
Auction proceeds are essential in filling the gap between the income the school receives from tuition and the actual cost of a Priory education. About 2/3 of last year’s operating expenses were covered by tuition. And the cost of an auction ticket covers roughly the cost of the event. The school’s wishes come true—or not—in the bidding, Cindy explained.
A good story isn’t complete without a dark side
or a crisis, and Auction 2005 almost had one of those. As this magazine goes to press, the Davisons were just notified that the fire extinguishing system at the Hotel Sofitel had malfunctioned and roof sprinklers rained down into the dining room, causing extensive damage. Everything should be back to normal a week before the event, barring any wicked witches or evil spells at work. Actually, the happy ending is assured because the site of our imaginary kingdom isn’t affected, and if need be, the hotel will create a new entrance just to maintain an ambiance unmarred by any views of repairs.
For the monks, who always attend, the auction is a great chance to be with friends from throughout the Priory’s four-plus decades. “I also really enjoy spending time with today’s community in a different atmosphere. The volunteers do such a superb job with this evening—it’s really impossible NOT to have a terrific time,” Father Martin Mager remarked.
If previous years are any indication, he will be among the guests dancing to the live music until the clock tower strikes at midnight.
Revelers wishing to prolong the ambiance can simply stay over. The Hotel Sofitel is offering a special rate for Priory guests—contact the hotel for more information.
The ambiance in the dining room could be any of sev- eral countries, but the food is definitely from a superb French kitchen. From the selection of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres to the salad, side dishes and choice of entreé to the grand finale desserts, the Priory’s tasters have selected only the best. And they concentrated particularly carefully on the wines that grace each table. The Hotel Sofitel’s chefs are known for the freshness of their ingredients, their attention to detail and the excellence of their presentation, as guests at previous auctions will happily attest
8