eginning 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.

Matsonia, Sunday, November 10, 1940

Sunday nite in bed –

Have just set my watch (we turn back ½ hour every night) – washed some hose -- & glad to get in bed. It’s been pretty lonely today but I’ve been lounging around half asleep – Got up this morning to eat breakfast at 8:30 with Mr. Toady – the one behind the roses. He’s a Russian Jew – humanitarian capitalist – speaks very broken English & insists that I drink two glasses of milk at every meal & two eggs for breakfast with no cigarette afterward. The New Yorker hasn’t been able to “report” for a meal since the first day – we have two sisters from Iowa who have finally crawled out of their hole – but they aren’t very talkative – and are extremely attractive. Miss Nelson from Los Angeles,

Kay Francis[1] (the move actress) is on the boat --- and sits directly across from me on the sundeck – she’s cute, dresses beautifully. Tonite at dinner in plain black with diamonds & emeralds & silver fox. This morning in green tailored slack suit with bright red skirt. She’s very small. And we are also traveling with another notable – the multi millionaire – Doris Cromwell.[2] I stumbled on her heels today trying to go down the narrow little steps & out of the rain but didn’t know it was she until later. Yesterday morning played shuffleboard with a very insane young man (gov. employed engineer) and a very crabby young man who is a psychologist – freshly minted Ph.D. & taking a vacation before he will be called out with Nat. Guards next month. Then deck tennis & ping pong with the crabby one.

They had miniature horse races in the lobby yes. Morning – a concert & tea each afternoon. Bingo last nite & a movie tonight. I sat in a deck chair just outside the open windows & heard all the Janet McDonald – Nelson Eddy[3] music without sitting in the stuffed & stuffy room.

To date I am still a good sailor – but I did get a little dizzy tonight going down to dinner -- & could only order an Idaho baked potato & hot tea to everyone else’s 5 or 6 courses.

The orchestra plays from 10 to 12:30 every night & also during dinner. I danced a while last night with one of the boys I played shuffle board with (the insane one, of course).

Its “galey” on deck tonight. I sat for two hours & watched the horizon rise above the deck rail & then fall back below it – then start all over again. The sea has been smooth all day (with a drizzly rain) but is quite “wobbly” now. All trunks are ordered to remain closed for the nite and portholes closed so it must be getting worse rain & windy.

We have a great big bowl all sorts of fruit kept replenished on the desk – nice.

The air is so wonderful outside that I positively feel as if I would suffocate in this little inside cubby hole but have the ventilator open, though, and fan going full force.

The deck steward took the captain over the A and sun decks introducing everyone to Capt. Johnson.

I have been barely hobbling around today – can hardly move after all the recreative activity of yesterday.

Had my hair repaired in the Elizabeth Arden[4] shop this morning ---

I’m getting so sleepy & stupid that I can’t write a decent line so will sign off after my two eggs & quart of milk breakfast in the morning.

Love,

Cecilia