First mate's log:
November 3, 1972
There's going to be a square dance on the island a week from tomorrow. I know, that's Veteran's Day, but Skipper and the other vets don't mind. He's going to take his Blenford girlfriend Joyce to it. And I've of course invited Mary Ann.
As a country girl from Kansas, she of course knows how to doe-si-doe, but I mostly just know modern dances, some of them taught to me by Ginger, like the Watusi. (Well, I guess kids don't do the Watusi anymore, because Peter just looked at me blankly when I mentioned it.) Mary Ann has promised to teach me some of the basic square dances, but first we have to find time, and second, we're going to have to find three couples to practice with, to make a square.
Carol Brady's diary:
November 4, 1972
Our island will be holding a square dance next Saturday. I'm really looking forward to it as a family event. Unfortunately, Jan, who's at that age (twelve going on thirteen), is going through a phase where she doesn't want to be part of a big family. In fact, she says she'd like to be an only child, like her friend Donna. Mike was an only child and he wishes he had siblings, while I of course had my younger brother Jack. I think there are good and bad things about having siblings, mostly good.
In Jan's case, I think it's especially hard because she's had trouble with being the middle girl, and she's sometimes felt like she's in Marcia's shadow. But this thing lately seems to be that she feels like she has to share everything, unlike Donna. I'm not sure how this will be resolved, but I hope she'll make peace with it in the next week.
One complication is that Jan doesn't want to go to the square dance and wants to do a sleepover at Donna's that night. I have nothing against Donna, but I wish the girls had chosen another night. It's awful, but I can't help hoping that Jan will miss her siblings that night, although I do of course want her to continue to make friends outside of the family. And, yes, this was all so much simple before we were rescued, and my kids were the only ones on the island. Well, except for "Jungle Boy." (Who's in college on the mainland now.)
On a brighter note, there's going to be a strawberry jam contest as part of the Saturday event. My Grandma Connie's recipe is a guaranteed winner, since she used to win with it in Kentucky. It'll be harder to gather the ingredients on our island than in California, but I think I can manage it, especially if I shop on Blenford.
November 5, 1972
Mary Ann and I are now a square with the Skipper and Joyce, Kilani and Ugundi (who still work for Mary Ann, even though she runs a pizzeria rather than a diner these days), and the Professor and Ginger, who are willing to come over for the dance on Saturday. It's obviously hard to coordinate all our schedules, but we practice when we can, and sometimes I go over to the pizza place when the ferry is docked over here and the dinner rush is over. Then we can at least make half a square.
Mary Ann thinks it'll be fun to dance, but she's actually more excited about the jam-making contest. It's strawberry jam and, yes, she'll let me try the practice batches. She's going to use her Aunt Martha's old recipe, which won prizes back in Winfield, Kansas. I'm wishing her luck of course, but I think even if the jam doesn't win, it'll still be great jam.
November 6, 1972
The kids told me that they're trying to show Jan more respect and consideration. Or as Greg put it, getting into the square-dance spirit, "We'll take kindly to the critter." He himself cut short a phone call where he was asking a girl on a date, and you know what a sacrifice that is. Hopefully, Jan will appreciate how lucky she is to have siblings who care about her.
Meanwhile, I found out that Alice is entering the jam contest, too. She's a wonderful cook of course, but I think my grandmother's recipe can beat her aunt's.
November 7, 1972
I voted today, for Senator McGovern, but don't tell the Skipper that. I know, President Nixon will probably win again, but I identify with the youth vote, even though I'm twenty-eight. Not that every young person is a Democrat. I know that the Howells' nephew is just as Republican as they are.
November 8, 1972
Well, President Nixon was re-elected, in a landslide. I was expecting this, so I'm not upset or even that disappointed. I believe he wants what's best for this country, even if I don't always agree with his methods.
I have to admit that I've been trying to focus on the square dance and the jam contest. As for Jan, well, the kids are still doing what they can to make her see the advantages of having brothers and sisters. Peter and Bobby even loaned her $1.50 that they'd been saving up. That may not sound like a lot, but they were hoping to get a trick rope on Saturday. Instead, they gave it to Jan, so she can get a subscription to Teen-Ager Magazine. Yes, I can't help hoping the magazine has a good advice column about getting along with siblings.
November 9, 1972
I haven't paying as much attention to the Bradys as usual, because I've been distracted by square-dancing and jam-testing. They're going on Saturday, too, of course. It's a very family kind of event, although it's not just for families obviously.
The problem is, Jan doesn't want to do family stuff anymore. Cindy talked to me about it today, because she's pretty upset. Jan is tired of having so many brothers and sisters and she wants to be an only child. At first, the kids tried to be extra nice to her. But Cindy, who still has trouble keeping secrets, accidentally blabbed that they were doing this and told Jan they'd stop once she gave up on wanting to be an only child. So then Jan told all her brothers and sisters off and they yelled back, especially Greg, who's still kind of the leader of the kids.
"...And now we're all ignoring Jan and I hate it!" Cindy said, crying. "I love all my brothers and sisters and I don't understand why Jan doesn't love us."
"She does love you. It's just sometimes people need a break from their families." I thought about the times I used to run away and hide in caves. Not that the castaways were my real family, but we kind of all were like a family. I still feel that way, although we're not all as close-knit as we were before the rescue.
"Like when Bobby tried to run away?"
"Yeah, kind of. And Jan will come around. Just give her time." I didn't promise that it'll be by Saturday, because I know Jan can be both stubborn and over sensitive sometimes.
Cindy dried her eyes and thanked me. I'll see her and the rest of the Bradys in a couple days, and hopefully everyone will have fun, whether or not Jan is there.
November 10, 1972
Jan is "back in the family." She missed her brothers and sisters, who were ignoring her by mutual agreement. So, after a good talk with Mike, she demanded to be let back in. And then the nine of us, Alice of course included, practiced for the sack race. Yes, it's another activity we'll be doing tomorrow, and I'm so happy that Jan will be part of it.
I must admit, Alice and I have gotten very competitive this week over the jam contest. Mike of course refuses to take sides. I think both Alice and I can be good sports, but it is a little nerve-wracking having a competitor in the same house, the same kitchen. We say that it's a friendly competition, and yet. I'll be glad when we finally know the winner.
November 11, 1972
The square dance and all that was today. The dancing was a lot of fun, even if I messed up some steps and threw our whole square off. And, OK, I also tripped up the Skipper during the potato-sack race. But I'm still glad I went.
They didn't announce the winner of the strawberry jam contest yet, just the three finalists. It's Mary Ann, Alice, and Mrs. Brady! I'm glad I don't have to make the final decision. It was bad enough when I had to cast the deciding vote for Miss Castaway. Obviously, it's different now that I'm engaged to Mary Ann, but I'm fond of both Alice and Mrs. Brady, and I've been eating their cooking off and on for over eight years, Alice especially.
They'll announce the results tomorrow afternoon. Mary Ann says the suspense is killing her, although she's glad she'll at least get a yellow ribbon (for third place).
November 12, 1972
We all had a blast at the hoedown and other activities yesterday. It was wonderful to have Jan as part of the fun. (I'd bought her a dress and hair-ribbons just in case, so we were all able to dress country style.) She invited her friend Donna and they've postponed their sleepover until this coming Saturday. We did a modified five-couple square dance, so that Alice could be included, too, but the star shape was lovely, if more complicated.
The only disappointment was the jam contest. I made it to the top three, but the judges said that it was too close to decide easily. They called us back for the prize ceremony this afternoon. I came in third, the yellow ribbon. I was disappointed, but at least I placed. After that, I was of course rooting for Alice to get the blue ribbon. But Mary Ann won. I was happy for her, but I wished I'd known ahead of time she'd be in the competition. After all, she grew up on a farm.
Anyway, Alice and I didn't exactly quarrel at the stove, but there is more peace in our kitchen now, and of course throughout the house because Jan is proud to be a Brady kid again.