Beginning on November 1, which is the date of my mother’s first letter from her Hawaii trip 84 years ago, I am serializing, day by day, the book, Cecilia King’s Extraordinary Senior Trip, which you can obtain from Amazon in either Kindle or paperback.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming nine-months in Hawaii 1940-41.

Arkansas to Hawaii
El Paso, November 1, 1940
El Paso

Friday Night
Dear Daddy and Mother,

Well – here I am. Covered the first lap of “Honolulu Bound,” Volume I. Had a pretty good trip except for the woman with 6 brats who sat behind me and cried, spanked and broke milk bottles all day and night.

Didn’t see a tree from the time I woke up this morning until 5 this afternoon -- & funny little squatty shacks & rheumatic bushes. And didn’t see a white person in El Paso until I got over here to Uncle Arthur’s hotel – he took me down to his office to meet his secretary. I’m sharing a room here with Josephine something (in preference to staying in an uptown hotel) – she leaves Monday & then I’ll have the room alone. It’s a nice comfortable, friendly sort of “boarding house.”

I’ve been rushing horribly to get ready for dinner at 6 – only to be ready an hour early since I forget to turn my watch back after getting here.

Uncle Arthur is taking me over to Juarez tonite “shopping.” But I think we’ll just go to Juarez period. Neither my bags nor Juarez can stand any shopping at this point.

I just couldn’t resist the 75-cent breakfast on the train this morning – fried apples and sausage, etc. And the extra shrimp cocktail last nite.

We’re going to Carlsbad Sunday – and to see the White Sands (whatever they may be) tomorrow. But right now the most pleasant thing I can imagine would be to “stretch” clear out – legs and all – to sleep with no babies crying or climbing over the seat to leer at me.

We stopped at every chicken track all the way out – 30 min. or hour stops. So I have gotten all the center of my needlepoint finished & worked crossword puzzles till I see them in the dark.

Well, it’s 6 now – correct time so I’ll envelope this – will write again before I leave.

Love, Cecilia