The Birthday Boy Looks Back on Hollywood Night

What a lark! What a thrill! Oh, what an absolute delight! Hollywood's smallest event of the year turned out to be a smashing, splashing Spectacular Spectacular!

HOLLYWOOD NIGHT IN-THE-MAKING...
Everything went as fabulously as I'd hoped. Thanks to Eddy Daddy and six amazing friends, the stage decor was marvellously put together and made for a lively, astonishing backdrop for photography. I was in awe at how identical the final product was from the photoshop draft I'd designed as a guide for them. Props to the wonderful decor team!

Credit also goes to them for the table decor looking so gorgeous, with the potpourri and door gifts adding a tinge of class to the setting. Colin too did a fantastic job bringing in the stage and audio & video system.

I could have held the jamboree in a hotel function hall, a country club or a private pub and spent thousands on the expensive packages that such venues usually come with. But my cost-free estate clubhouse emerged the best. Money was well-spent, instead, on creating the ideal Hollywood feel in the room.

I remember standing in the middle of the jamboree hall minutes before the event commenced and thinking to myself "gosh, this is perfect!".

THE DRAMA BEHIND THE HOLLYWOOD STAGE
The weeks leading to the jamboree day, however, were utterly stressful and emotionally intense, particularly on the day itself. Nine months of ridiculously excruciating planning and preparation had boiled down to that one evening and by the time that morning arrived, it was too surreal for my heart to sink it in.

There were points in time when I feared I'd be too paranoid during the evening to actually enjoy myself.

THE SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR SHOW!
But all that went away as guests streamed in and the excitement level in the room increased with each graceful toast that loved ones delivered. It was a beautiful, nostalgic walk down memory lane as friends and family took turns on stage to share about the good times that we've had together.

Tears came about as close companions dedicated song items on stage and wild laughter belted out from among the crowd as others decided to poke fun at the birthday boy with hilarious sabotage plans.

Then there was the dance tribute to Christina Aguilera that my friend, Alyssa, and I had worked on for weeks. Boy oh boy, reliving the joys of dancing on stage after 6 long years was such an exhilarating experience, and I'm so glad that I got to share it with a dearest Polytechnic mate.

THE "ADDISON'S ADDI-TUDE" VIDEO AND THE OSCAR
And of all the awesome, awesome presents that I received this year, two of them were extra special because they came from a whole bunch of people whom I love, love, love. so deeply. Unquestionably, they're the "Addison's Addi-tude" birthday video tribute and the Oscar.

I thought the Oscar was easily one of the most thoughtful gifts I'd ever received. It doesn't take a close friend to know how much the Oscars is part of my life and love for Hollywood. So thanks to all those who contributed to this lovely gift.

I thought Dannel did an extraordinary job putting the video together. Having had multiple first-hand experiences of producing such birthday videos, I can easily say he is on his way to becoming quite a skilled filmmaker. Haha!

The video was lovely - truly. What I found most interesting was listening to friends and family share about their fondest memory of the friendship that we share. Ever so often, we only have our perspective of what's special in our collection of friends-related memories. I loved how the video helped me take the perspective of the other parties and understand what was special to them.

There were, of course, some really hilarious parts, especially in the Christina Aguilera segment. But most of it was warm and moving. Thanks to everyone who took time to be part of this gift, which was very much a labour of love.

WHEN THE CURTAINS CLOSE
The days following the jamboree have been quite odd. I suddenly no longer have long to-do lists waiting for my attention. There's this great sense of nostalgia every time I pass by the clubhouse in my estate.

Addison Thomas Wong's "Hollywood Night" 21st Birthday Jamboree has become one of the greatest events in my life and I will always hold the memories that I have of it dear to my heart. Thanks to everyone who were there for taking time to be a part of this magnificent memory.