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, January 10, 1941 Yesterday morning I got a permanent – and it looks much better than it did streaming down my back straight. Yesterday afternoon A. Susan brought me a dozen little white carnations (wired) & maiden hair fern – I fixed them in a long sort of wreath to wear just above my back curls. They looked so pretty with my white dress. The I gave Mrs. Roberts several for her “curls.” The most exciting, wonderful thing (Thurs night) has just happened – Westy called & wanted me to go to a party at the Royal Hawaiian Saturday night! The most perfect of Oahu’s bachelor officers and the most elite of Honolulu entertainment – couldn’t improve on it if I wanted to – BUT – as usual, there’s a black cat in paradise because Max had already called for Saturday. And Max is nice and a lot of fun. I got my Christmas package from Cousin jack & Judy today – it’s a lovely tea rose stain gown – with the top sheered. Please be sure to send me their address as soon as you get it – Today was the Boss’s birthday & I didn’t know it till flowers came from Dottie & Wes so I’m going to town in the morning to do a little snooping on the subject. Mrs. McCarly (wife of U. Ed’s assistant) called today & wanted me to come to donner after a girl from N.Y. comes the 22nd of Jan. She’s coming to see an ensign — & Mrs. M. wants me to meet both of them & the ens’ friend (another ens.). The latter is a friend of theirs – rather his family is. Very complicated explanation etc. And the Caldwells guest at Schofield I have to call on. So I’m beginning to have to assume some responsibilities of an “old gal of the Islands.” January 10 – continued 2.70 net dress + white jacket cleaned 2.50 alterations on green dress .15 bus .50 garters & roller comb 1.35 one pair of sheer nylon hose for afternoon .15 bus 1.15 carton cigarettes[1] .60 Revlon nail polish (red punch) 9.10 all paid for

10. Marcel 1.00 jasmine tea (Boss’ birthday present – will send flowers after these are all gone .30 bus .50 alterations on white chiffon .60 white panties 21.50 paid for

I can’t figure it all out from the beginning but I still have about $15 – so unless an emergency comes (in which case I can use my 20.00 Xmas checks) I’m still O.K.

[1] Unfortunately, it appears that my mother was addicted to tobacco by the time she was 18, not surprising because about half of Americans smoked cigarettes in the 1940’s (https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/27/health/cigarette-smoking-decline/index.html). For men, it was 65%, but for women, only about 15% (https://tidsskriftet.no/en/2009/09/tobacco-consumption-among-men-and-women-1927-2007) . Although she suffered from chronic asthma, she smoked for almost the next 50 years, quitting only when she had to go on oxygen, and dying at age 69 from emphysema.