First mate's log:
January 1, 1970
Wow, a brand new decade! I was a very young fifteen ten years ago. I didn't know anything about girls and I had no idea what I'd want to do for living. I hope I've grown up a little in the meantime. In some ways, living on the island has kept me a "boy," but I've also risked my life at times. I expect to be here a decade from now, because almost everything I want is here and what isn't is mostly available on Blenford.
I don't know if I have any New Year's, or New Decade's, resolutions. I guess just to keep figuring things out and to at some point regrow my mustache.
Carol Brady's diary:
January 2, 1970
The children are on Christmas break, so I've been pretty busy with them home all day, although of course Alice does most of the work. But I'm the one they come to when they're bored with their games and their toys, and each other. And meanwhile, Tiger is racing in and out of the house, adding to the noise.
It's so strange to think how different my life was at the dawn of the '60s. I was a young mother (not that I think of myself as quite middle-aged yet), with toddler Marcia, and Jan on the way. Tim was alive and we were happy and looking towards the future. Not that I'm not happy now, but I didn't yet know of the unhappiness ahead.
And I never imagined that I would spend so much of my life on a lightly populated island, far from my parents and even now without many modern amenities. I've adapted to this life, and sometimes I love it, especially the parts about Mike, the kids, Alice, and, yes, even Tiger. And I've made good friends here. But if twenty-five-year-old me had heard about all the craziness I'd go through, I wouldn't have believed it.
January 15, 1970
The Bradys' dog is missing! Bobby especially is worried. "It's not like when I was gonna run away. He's just a dog and he doesn't know anything."
I've promised to keep an eye out, on our island and on Blenford, just in case Tiger somehow got on the ferry without us noticing. I've had a lot of pets on this island, so I understand how he feels. Of course, most of mine were fine living in the jungle or the lagoon. (I don't keep any these days because I'm not home enough.)
January 16, 1970
Tiger is missing and all the kids are upset, including Jan, who still feels guilty about the time she thought she was allergic to him. Mike is going to place an ad in the paper and all the kids have contributed, as have I, Alice, and Gilligan. I'm sure Tiger is somewhere on the island, and it's not like he disappeared when there was less development, but he still could've gone into a cave, fallen off a cliff, drowned, etc. Oh dear!
No, I have to believe he'll return safe and sound. And I'm not as worried as when Bobby wanted to run away, but then again, it's not as if Mike and I can use child psychology to make Tiger come home.
January 18, 1970
Peter found Tiger at the Howells'. Not that he was living in the mansion, but the guard at the entrance to their island estate has a girl dog, who turns out to be Tiger's "wife." They had puppies, so Tiger has been visiting them, and I guess wandering the island in between visits. He's back home now.
January 25, 1970
Tiger turned out to be staying at the Howells' estate, with his "wife" and puppies. That was tricky to explain to the younger children. He's now splitting his time between his two "families." It makes me very grateful that for the most part we have been one big bunch for five and a half years, not just as two merged families, but our friends from the shipwreck as well, even Ginger and the Professor over on Blenford.
February 14, 1970
I was going to finally ask Mary Ann out for Valentine's Day, but Gopher beat me to it. And she said yes. He's a nice guy, and I know I've been dragging my feet for years, but I guess I just always thought I had more time. On the one hand, I hope it doesn't work out, but on the other, she could definitely do worse.
February 15, 1970
Mike and I had plans of dinner and dancing on Blenford for Valentine's Day, but instead I spent much of the day packing and trying to reassure the children. I got a long-distance call from my Aunt Mary, who insisted she wants me to come take care of her. On the one hand, she lives on the Mainland and I have family commitments here. On the other hand, she is my favorite aunt and I used to help her back when I lived in California. And, yes, she is my mother's sister, so my mother could go in my place, but I have a hard time saying no to Mary.
Both Mike and Alice have assured me that they can manage fine without me, but the kids are less sure. Poor Cindy especially is only five and a half and we've never been separated, except briefly for my honeymoon with Mike, and you know how that turned out. Obviously, I'll miss everyone, even Tiger, although he's not around as much as he was. But duty calls.
I'll leave on Tuesday, since Monday is President's Day. I'll take the ferry over to Blenford and then fly to Honolulu from there. My parents will meet me at LAX and then drive me to Aunt Mary's.
And, yes, it's entirely possible that Mary will be fine by the time I arrive and so I'll have had my trip for nothing. But I must admit part of me wants a little jaunt, and it feels selfish to ask for a solo vacation for my own self.
February 17, 1970
We took Mrs. Brady over on the ferry today. She's going to take care of her sick aunt in California. I know, it seems a long way to go but she says that she's the one who's best to go. I know her family's really going to miss her, but I also know she believes in doing what's right.
Gopher and Mary Ann went out again. I don't know how serious it is, but it's still pretty early of course.
February 21, 1970
Aunt Mary is still sick, but in a vague, lingering sort of way. So I don't know when I'll be able to go home. When I called home, Mike reluctantly admitted that Alice has sprained her ankle. I offered to return, since I could make arrangements for Mary, but he insisted that he and the kids have everything under control. I feel bad for Alice of course, especially since there's a dance that she was going to with Sam on Blenford tonight, but there's not really anything I can do to help from this far away.
February 22, 1970
Poor Alice sprained her ankle and couldn't go to a dance with Sam, but I guess he felt guilty and didn't go, even though he was on the ticket committee. I haven't talked to him about it, but that's what Mary Ann said. (We're still good friends, even though she's seeing Gopher, but I don't talk to either of them about their relationship.)
The Brady kids came to me last week with complaints about how, according to the girls, the boys weren't helping at all with meals, and according to the boys, the girls were making terrible food. But they decided to try teamwork, like Mr. Brady is always advising, and I guess that helped.
February 28, 1970
I'm home and everything seems fine. Even Alice missing the dance worked out, since Sam skipped it for her sake. As for Aunt Mary, she one day said she felt better and I should get back to my family. So here I am, grateful for my quiet time away but also very happy to be back.
