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.
Honolulu, Friday, November 22, 1940
Friday night –
This is almost a ditto of the past several days, town this morning – but of a different nature. We took Aunt Susan’s old hat down to be reblocked for me – but came home with a new one on the bill instead. It is a huge brimmed frosty pink straw – sits on the back of my head with the front brim turned down –and really looks like a picture with the pink organdy dress. Now the problem is whether or not to complete the ensemble by having my white satin slippers tinted pink. Aunt Susan is so insistent that every detail of me look perfect that the next step is to take the new hat to Marcel de Paris and have him fix my hair to look pretty with the hat!! It’s a consolation to know that my toes will be concealed & won’t have to be curled or anything drastic. Took my dress by t have the pulled place reinforced & mended – it seems that particular but is put in with the warp & woof at odds with my arms – but you’ll have to ask the French woman who is charging $2.50 to do it or Aunt Susan – I couldn’t speak the lingo. Also tried on shoes – 8 stores looked at my feet & said “no fitting you.” The other two said “me fitty” & they fitted with I. Millers from $10.00 up. So will want to see what you say about having the white shoes tinted & when I need other evening sandals will have the same size & kind sent from the Rose in Little Rock.
I bet Daddy is getting bored & disgusted with these pages of clothes $ prices – but the first four weeks here are merely the applying of polish – ye gods – hate to think what I’ll and you’ll feel like when I begin to get shined. Maybe I should have chosen “tic” or “tat” instead of “to” this winter.
I am going ahead & spending the gift Uncle Arthur gave me on the millions of little things I have to have right now – and if you can send me the balance on the things I had to buy before asking you about – I’ll try to get along without asking for more until Aunt Susan says hop again.
I am forgetting the Arden fitted evening bag – but seriously, if you do and can send me anything at all for Christmas, make it an evening dress, something extra special. Within the next three weeks I have the wedding & two big dinners (give for me) so by Christmas I will be introduced around & probably out on my own for the holidays & will need another pretty evening dress badly.
I am sending the pictures made at the docks to you all soon as I can get them packed and out.