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, Saturday, December 14, 1940
Saturday night – Dec 14
Dear Daddy and Mother --
And a grand time was had by all! It was a marvelous party, really.
When Randy came for me he brought a lovely lei of bright red (small) carnations for me. We went a little early to help open potato chips, peanuts and popcorn for our “bar” table (the different dinner parties each had their private corner to the bar) and to help receive. Our tables was on the “lanai” (Hawaiian for porch) – and the length was centered with red gladiolas, carnations, roses & poinsettias over fine green ferns. It was right next to the large, open dancing pavilion. After the usual, but good, club dinner of fruit cocktail, filet mignon etc. and ice cream – the dancing started. And it was the most perfect night I’ve nearly ever seen – the full moon, palms, and lighted water below. We had two orchestras – one Hawaiian, one American (both a little on the tango & rumba side – with sudden outbreaks of “Dipsy Doodle” etc.
And I couldn’t have had a more perfect date. Randy knows everyone, is always in demand, the “life of the party” – meeting the usual requirements. But, more than that, he is a beautiful dancer “waltzy” – Annapolis graduate, now Navy Lt. hailed from Virginia – perfect manners – Well. Anyway, to finish Randy & I get on with the party – afterwards we had a glass of sweet milk at Kau Kau and so home. He brought me a lovely huge tube rose but forgot to give it to me until after dinner. Anyone who is in the Navy but manages to be at all the Army socials & gets away with it is a diplomat from “way back” – and he is.
During the dancing I had two very nice partners whom I especially liked – Bruch H. & Charley R. – but they are leaving the 30th for the mainland. No grief, though, because there seem to be hundreds more like them here waiting to be discovered. Then of course – there were my “turkey trot” obligations with the Cols. And my gushing to do with their wives.
Over the lanai railing – the lights in the water showed gold colored & other tropical fish swimming in & around the coral. I just can’t imagine, anywhere, a more gorgeous setting for an evening than we had tonight.

Editor’s Note:

After about a month in Honolulu, Cecilia’s social life finally took off. Her first date with one of many bachelors she would date in the next eight months was with Randolph (“Randy”) Meade, Jr., who became one of her regulars. Randy was a Naval Academy graduate and retired as a Navy captain.
Randolph (“Randy”) Meade, Jr. (1915 – 2002)
When Randolph Meade was born on May 19, 1915, in Danville, Virginia, his father, Randolph, was 44 and his mother, Helen, was 35. He married Audrey Phyllis Lloyd {Meade} on September 11, 1943, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They had four children during their marriage. He died on June 16, 2002, in Annapolis, Maryland, at the age of 87, and was buried there.[1]

Figure 2 - The Bee, Danville, VA July 27, 1943

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Captain Randolph Meade, Jr., USN (retired), a native of Danville, died of Parkinson's Disease on June 16, 2002, at his home in Annapolis, Maryland, at age 87. Randolph Meade entered the US Naval Academy in 1932 shortly after his 17th birthday. Although he had not completed high school, thanks to tutoring by his cousin, the noted historian and Danville native, Robert D. Meade, he was able to pass the Academy's entrance exam and was one of the youngest members of his class. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1936 and spent the following 30 years in naval postings around the world. After retiring from the Navy in 1966, he became Vice President of Business and Finance at the University of Delaware for seven years during a period of unprecedented growth for that institution. In 1973, he retired for a second time, and returned to Annapolis, Md. From 1983 to 1996 Capt. Meade was a member of the Board of Directors of Annapolis Life Care, Inc., the management body for Ginger Cove, serving as Chairman of the Building Committee during the planning and construction phase of the Ginger Cove's development and then as Vice President of the Board during its early years of operation. Until his health curtailed his activity, Captain Meade played squash, tennis and sailed as often as opportunity and weather allowed. He also fulfilled a lifelong dream by obtaining his private pilot's license at the age of 66. He was an avid fisherman, and designed and crafted his own surf fishing rods throughout his retirement. He was an expert marksman with multiple types of firearms, and he enjoyed hunting, primarily upland game and waterfowl, and also successfully competed in skeet and clay pigeon shooting competitions through the 1950's and 60's. In addition to receiving a BS in Naval Science from the Naval Academy in 1936, Captain Meade also attended Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program in 1952, the National War College in 1958, and received a Masters in International Affairs from George Washington University in 1965. Randolph Meade, Jr. was born on May 19, 1915, at 1150 Main Street, which was the home of his parents, the late Randolph Meade and Helen James Meade. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Audrey P. Meade. He is also survived by their children Kathleen Meade Craighill, of Annapolis, Maryland; Julie-Ann Meade Urban, of Ladenburg, Pennsylvania; Capt. Randolph Meade, III USCG, (Ret.), of Pembrook Pines, Florida; Susan Meade Fitzgerald, of Saint Petersburg, Florida, and by 6 grandchildren. Services were held at the U.S. Naval Academy at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2002. Supplied by Marianne Bradley.[2]