June 21, 1965
First mate's log:
I fell out of a palm tree again, but this time I have a swollen nose. It looks awful! Not that I had a great nose to begin with, but I was attached to it.
Both Ginger and Mary Ann flirted with me, but I overheard them telling Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Brady that they were just trying to make me feel better. I know I'm ugly and I'll never have a girlfriend.
I begged the Professor to operate on my nose. He's the closest thing we have to a doctor. I have to go now so that he can make a mold of my head.
June 22, 1965
Carol Martin's diary:
Poor Gilligan! He fell out of a tree and onto his nose! The swelling should go down in a week or less, but he thinks it's permanently damaged. The Professor confessed to me that he's agreed to fake plastic surgery on Gilligan, just so that the nose will be covered up by a bandage while it goes back to normal.
I need to go help Ginger and Mary Ann make clay models of celebrity noses for Gilligan to pick, I mean choose. Even though I know that the Professor won't really change Gilligan's nose, this part should be fun. Marcia and Jan want to help, too. They both like pottery. Marcia says she thinks getting hit in the nose must be one of the worst things that can happen, so she feels terrible for Gilligan.
I should mention that Mary Ann and Ginger both flirted with Gilligan, to make him feel better about his looks. Of course, they like flirting with him anyway.
June 26, 1965
We've been on the island a whole year now. Considering all the times I could've died, I guess a swollen nose isn't as bad as it could be. And the bandage comes off tomorrow. I can't wait to see my new nose!
June 27, 1965
Yesterday was the first anniversary of landing on the island. I hate to think of what it'll be like if we're here another year, or more. But we keep living as if we're going to be here awhile. Even though the summer weather isn't much different than the rest of the year, Mike and I are giving the children, and ourselves, a couple months off from school.
Today was the day that Gilligan's bandage came off. He was surprised and disappointed to have his "same old nose," but I think he'll get used to it again.
June 30, 1965
Now the Professor has a swollen nose! I was caddying for Mr. Howell and then the Skipper came along so Mr. Howell was going to show the Skipper how to golf. But when he swung back, he hit the Professor, who'd just shown up. Hopefully, the swelling will go down before the Fourth of July celebrations.
July 2, 1965
This can't be happening. One minute I'm trying to think of words of comfort for the Professor, who's the latest one with a nose injury, and then the next I'm sitting there stunned, listening to the news.
I can't write it down. I feel like it's the end of the world. And the worst part is I don't know what to tell our daughters!
July 3, 1965
Poor Mrs. Martin. Yesterday she heard on the radio that her husband died in Vietnam! The war was hardly going when we left Hawaii. I guess I'll fight in it when we get back. The Skipper might, too, since we'll probably rejoin the Navy. Capt. Martin was in the Navy since before he got married. That's how he knew the Skipper, and that's how his family ended up on this island with us.
It's just over a year ago that Mrs. Martin died. I guess we're going to have another sad 4th of July. I feel especially bad for the kids, the boys losing their mom, the girls losing their dad. Mary Ann and I talked about it and we're both going to try harder to be sort of an aunt and uncle to them, as long as we're all here together. That way it won't be so hard for Mr. Brady and Mrs. Martin to be single parents. And of course the Skipper and Alice and everyone will keep helping, too.
August 2, 1965
It's been a month since I heard the news. It's still hard for me to say it. At first I was mostly shocked and stunned, and then the grief hit me. I still cry at night sometimes, although I try to do it quietly, so the girls can't hear me. Marcia and Jan know about death because of Mrs. Martin, but of course it's different when it's their own parent. I haven't talked to Cindy about it. She's only two and doesn't even remember her father. I hope she'll understand when she's older. And I'll tell her all about him when she's old enough to ask questions.
Sometimes I think the worst part is that it had been a year since I'd seen him. I'd already started to forget a little exactly how he looked and spoke, the way he laughed. My fellow castaways are more vivid to me. As awful as Barbara Brady's death was, at least Mike hadn't forgotten her before he lost her.
He's been very understanding of course. Despite the different circumstances, we both know what it's like to lose a beloved spouse and have to raise children on our own. Well, we're not completely alone of course. He's got Alice, who's been helping me, too. All the castaways have been very supportive, like honorary aunts and uncles to the kids. I couldn't get through this without them.