First mate's log:
December 13, 1972
Ginger and the Professor are getting married a week from tomorrow! They were going to wait till closer to Christmas but it works out better for their schedules to get married on the first day of Winter. Mary Ann is frantic about getting the food and everything ready on time, but the bride is surprisingly calm. Ginger says she's waited this long, and it will be perfect because of her groom.
That's how I feel about marrying Mary Ann, but yeah, before you know it, she'll be getting stressed out over our wedding. She says this is a distraction from her stress over Christmas-shopping. I'm just making gifts this year, like in the old days on the island.
Carol Brady's diary:
December 15, 1972
Both Jan and Peter are getting involved in a school play again. No, it's not a Christmas play. It's too late in the year for that. It'll actually be a Presidents' Day play, so two months away. Peter is auditioning for the lead role of George Washington, quite a step up from palace guard. He's taking it very seriously, and has been rehearsing all over the house.
As for Jan, she wants to try working behind the scenes this time. I hope it's not because she messed up in Romeo and Juliet and said, "Who goes there?" before Peter said "Hark." And of course Marcia is in high school now, and this is just a play for the junior high students.
Anyway, the auditions are today but the rehearsals won't start until after Winter Break. That will give the cast a chance to learn their lines a little over vacation.
December 17, 1972
Peter is disappointed about his role in the school play they'll put on in February. He wanted to be George Washington but his teacher picked him for Benedict Arnold!
"It's not that it's a smaller part," he told me. "I mean, I had fun as the palace guard last year. But who wants to play a traitor?"
"Especially when you were hoping to be the Father of the Country."
"Exactly."
"What are you gonna do?"
He sighed. "I don't know. Rehearsals don't start for another couple of weeks, so maybe I can think of a way to get out of it by then."
I remember how Marcia didn't want to be Juliet, when she auditioned for the Nurse, but that was kind of the opposite problem.
December 19, 1972
Peter was chosen to play Benedict Arnold instead of George Washington. He's understandably disappointed, but I told him that he should be flattered that he was given the more challenging, if smaller, role. He said he'll give it his best shot.
Meanwhile, Jan is in charge of sets, and she says it's because her father is an architect. No, I don't think she's being humble, like when Marcia thought she was chosen for Juliet because I was head of the play committee. Mike did a lot of work for Greg's Pilgrim movie, and I'm sure that's still remembered at the school. Yes, he'll get to reuse the snow effect. Hm, maybe we can put some of those extra boxes of Safe detergent to use.
December 21, 1972
The wedding went off without a hitch, ha ha. Ginger made a beautiful bride of course, and it was nice to see the Professor all gussied up for a change. The Skipper didn't lose the ring, and nothing went wrong, unlike the old days on this island. But then, things are different on Blenford anyway.
There were a few celebrities at the wedding, but not as many as if it was a Hollywood wedding of course. No, I didn't get any autographs, because I thought it might be tacky. (Not even Steve McQueen's!) Mary Ann teased me that I'm growing up.
We both liked that the wedding wasn't as big and fancy as it could've been, although obviously bigger than the Howells' second wedding. We want something like that, but on this island of course.
December 23, 1972
A couple days ago, the Professor and Ginger got married, and yes, we all went to the wedding on Blenford. It was simple and tasteful, but I can't picture the Professor wanting anything lavish. And Ginger has changed after all these years away from Hollywood. Yes, it's six months until Gilligan and Mary Ann's wedding.
It's strange to think of all our marital statuses eight and a half years ago, especially since Mike and I were both then happily married to other people. I still miss Tim, and Mike still misses Barbara, but I feel so grateful that we found happiness together, for us and our children. And Alice of course.
December 25, 1972
My last Christmas living with the Skipper. That makes me sad, even though I'm looking forward to living with Mary Ann. I mean, the Skipper will still be my best friend and we'll probably still work together on the ferry, but it won't be the same. And, yeah, I might help Mary Ann at the pizza parlor instead.
I made gifts out of coconuts, like a bowling ball for Sam and serving bowls for Mary Ann. People seemed to like them. I mostly got food, which was what I wanted, but the Brady kids gave me some vintage comic books I don't own. It turns out they handed their dad a list before his trip to Hawaii a few weeks ago. I guess it's OK to still be kind of a kid myself in some ways.
December 27, 1972
We had a lovely, if noisy Christmas, as always. The children loved their presents, but I felt a little sad realizing that even Cindy doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore. They're all growing up. Two years from now, Greg will be off at college, although I assume he'll come back for the holidays. That makes me treasure the remaining time we're all together every day even more.
December 29, 1972
I've been thinking about my New Year's resolutions. I think I want to try to balance my life better. Be there for Mary Ann, especially after we're married, but also be there for the Skipper, too. And try to figure out what that means for work. At the same time, I feel like the Bradys are my family, even though I don't live with them, and I still want to have time to listen to the kids' problems and stuff.
December 31, 1972
It's been quite a year. I've decided that my resolutions are to be as good a wife and mother as I can, while also pursuing my hobbies, especially art. I know, not really different than my life is now, but I think that's the balance that works best for me.