that after getting to bed tonight I’ll have a hard time getting up tomorrow. Luckily I brought some sea-sickness pills. Tomorrow, on the 6th, I will only feel a little dizziness.
Most of my dining companions couldn’t make it up to the upper deck dining area. Today the band on board asked me to teach cha-cha. After I taught for 15 minutes, there came a life saving demonstration. Everybody has to go below on deck and put on their life-jackets. This is very bothersome!
To Melvin Dong
[upon Bruce Lee’s arrival in San Francisco]9
May 17, 1959
Melvin,
The boat arrived in Honolulu. I’m very disappointed to find out that you guys have not dared to write to me.
Later, in the midst of not knowing what to do, suddenly a fellow passenger carrying a picture came looking for me, saying “Someone is waiting for you down below the deck.” By the time I got to the gate I noticed a lady and a gentleman waiting for me, one of them was called “Older Sister” and the other was called “Little Older Brother.”10 Both were sent by the Chinese Club troupe to come and meet with me.
They took me around to many places sightseeing, later on we ran into two people, Chang Ki-ming and Chil Lai Cheung. According to the two people, Chil Lai Cheung has a weird temper, but after I met them, he loved talking with me very much. I know nothing about him other than that he told me he has collected thousands upon thousands of L.P records. I resorted to saying that in Hong Kong, I also listened to a lot of albums. He also complained of his own shortcoming of being hard to get along with, and how his mistress had sold his Shatin11 vacation house, etc. Then he proceeded to ask about the well being of Papa. He said that in the future he would return to Hong Kong, given the opportunity. But this individual does not trust anybody at all. He handles all his business personally. Why would he ever leave the whole business behind for someone else to manage?
That evening, they also introduced me to a Mr. Tang. This Mr. Tang person is very wealthy. He and I hit it off right away, like we’d known each other forever. He studies Hung style boxing and loves the National Art.12 He envies my skill and knowledge of Wing Chun and hopes that I can stay longer in Hawaii to teach him boxing, and to find a school for me to teach at.
Later on he invited me to the World’s largest Chinese restaurant and nightclub for dinner. One bowl of shark fin soup is already US $25! I think after eating it this time I, myself, will never have an opportunity to eat another US $25 gourmet dish again.
Tell “Pretty Boy Dog” that I bought two tricks for him. I’ll wait until I arrive in San Francisco to mail them to him! But in the meantime, it is alright for you to tell him.
This letter was written and mailed immediately after the boat arrived in San Francisco. I really wish that all of you would write many letters to me so I won’t have to keep wondering about you guys.
1960
To Hawkins Cheung13 in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Posted from Seattle, Washington
May 16, 1960
Dear Hawkins,
I see that I am in your bad books through negligence in writing to you and do not know how to apologize sufficiently for the neglect. First of all, Hawkins, I must thank you for your welcome letter.
Hawkins, I am really truly sorry about your sickness, but, please do listen to me, it’s no use to become nervous and fidgety; remember that it won’t help but just de-improve the illness. Hawkins, I hope you will be better soon. Meanwhile, take it easy.
I admit that it’s good to practice Wing Chun. To be perfectly frank, I practice quite a lot on it nowadays (the wooden dummy has been shipped to me from Hong Kong already). But, as for you, I advise you to quit it for the time being and wait till you get better.
At present, I’m still going to the Edison High school, and will be graduated this summer. I plan to go to the University next year, that is, 1961. Well! I still don’t know what I’m going to major in, but when I find out I’ll write to you again. Now I find out that all those stuffs like Wing Chun, cha-cha are just for killing time and have a little fun out of it, and that study always comes first. Yes, that’s right, your own future depends on how well you have studied.
Now I am really on my own. Since the day I stepped into this country, I didn’t spend any money from my father. Now I am working as a waiter for a part time job after school. I’m telling you it’s tough, boy! I always have a heck of a time!
I didn’t do much for my spare time except studying and practicing Wing Chun (for good, of course!). Now and then, a South American would come and teach me some of his terrific fancy steps and have mine in return. His steps are really wonderful and exotic, and how cute it is! I tell you what, Hawkins, when you get well I’ll do my best and draw the steps on a piece of paper and teach you. All right?
Say, you still hang around with those guys, if you see Pip, please give her my best regards. In the meantime, please ask Richard to write me and tell him that I have lost his address.
Well, my friend, lots of luck to you and do get well soon.
Your friend,
Bruce
To a “Dear Young Lady”14
The mid-Autumn Festival being over. The cycle of the year once again has brought us to the colorful and sentimental days of Fall.
R, how could we let the valuable but short Autumn days slip away without doing them full justice? I often go to the movies these days. I need them for their soothing and inspiring qualities. So, write me a letter [indicating] which one you haven’t seen and I’ll invite you to see it this Sunday. That will suit you, won’t it, my dear young lady?
With my best wishes for all kinds of luck,
I am,
Bruce
To Dianne15
Dianne,
To be fond of learning is to be near knowledge. To practice with vigor is to be near to magnanimity. To possess the feeling of shame is to be near energy.
Love,
Bruce
1961
To Ed Hart16
March 1961
Dear Ed,
I am sorry that I didn’t write till now as I was very busy straightening up my entrance requirements for the University of Washington. Now everything is all right. I am being admitted for the Spring quarter, which will start the 27th of this month.
Ed, we miss you very much here, especially I, for having lost a good writer. But, of course, it’s for our friendship that I really miss you most. Ed, do your best and save up some money and come back to us.
We have given quite a number of exhibitions, and I have appeared on TV twice with Fook Young.
We might give an exhibition
