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, Wednesday, December 25, 1940

Christmas Day –

It’s been a fine day – but chilly – We had breakfast and Santa Claus about noon. Uncle Ed & A. Susan were both very pleased with my gifts – and the place cards you sent were just precious – she was tickled to death with them, and the jasmine sachets! You couldn’t have possibly sent anything she’d have liked better. And me! Well Santa brought me special delivery $10.00 check from the Edgar Kings. I’ve been mumbling and figuring all day – trying by elimination – to decide the most practical, enjoyable way to spend my $30.00 of Xmas money – I’ve been from government bonds through shoes, an exotic dress, to “missy boxes” (the cunning Chinese dressing table I told you about). Seriously, though, unless I weaken & spend it for clothes, I am going to get either a white teak-wood missy box, chest, or nest of tables with it (& maybe if it doesn’t roll, I’ll gather a little moss & I’ll have one very lovely piece of furniture).

Susan as enjoying her 10-cent mystery magazine (another Yule gift from the Col.) so today that I pinch-hit for her with Uncle Ed to the egg nog party at a civilian doctors – Dr. Frank. Saw French Mrs. Louslalat there & met Gov. Poindexter & dau. (Gov. of Terr, of Hawaii( soi I felt the hour well spent. Dr. F. has a miniature aviary with the prettiest “Mandarin” dick I’ve ever seen & white Javanese snow birds – several others. His pride & joy (a young pointer) was joint hostess with his pillar shaped wife. I wore the black outfit Judy gave me & black suede shoes – and, in the damp winds of the Manoa Valley, they felt very good.

On the way there we drove right through the end of a rainbow – but no pot of gold to date.

Oh yes! I almost forgot the box of chocolates Santa also brought me this morning –

Matsonia is leaving tomorrow so guess I’d better stick this on the door knob so Uncle Ed will post it –

I wrote invitations all afternoon (early) for the Jan. party -- & what a mess its going to be! “Air Corps reserves,” to me, sounds like “Damn Yankees” to a Confederate –

Think I’ll take my green chiffon to Leatrice tomorrow for hem leveling – then will be all set for the weekend and New Years.
If you don’t hear from me one of these days, don’t be alarmed because I will just have fallen through the floor here in my bed – the white ants are excavating on this particular site.

In you last letter you said something about the list of clothes I need – well, I’m going to slide through till spring on what I have – but if you see something (washable preferably) – combination sport, street dress on order of beige gaberdine (not quite so severe, maybe), I’d love to have one – something to wear like last Sunday from the beach to the movies & supper – but would rather have the one real nice one than several “seconds” so don’t worry too much with it, it’s worth waiting to get what you think is “it” (full skirt, too – not white).

We’re still piercing the west coast every night for the new comet – but guess we’ll have to wait for its big day Jan 10th when it’ll be as bright as Jupiter.

To finish up the day before my last page runs out – I’ve had hamburger steak (the best) & avocado salad for dinner at Ruger – home & shortly to bed –

Know you all had a grand Christmas & I’m waiting anxiously to hear about it –

Love, Cecilia