First mate's log:

January 7, 1973

The Brady kids have been busy over Christmas break, Marcia, Peter, and Jan especially. Jan is designing sets for the school play next month, while Peter has been practicing his lines for a role he's not crazy about. Marcia is in high school instead of junior high, so she's not involved in the play, but she wants to be chosen head cheerleader, so she's practicing for that.

Greg is the chairman of the cheerleader selection committee, even though he's never been a cheerleader, or even a mascot. The committee is made up of four guys who are active in student government. No, I don't know how they voted for chairman. Anyway, she wants to be chosen on her own merits.

I told her, "And he's only one vote out of four anyway, right?"

"Uh, right."

I wished her good luck of course. The tryouts will be on Friday the 26th, so still awhile off, but before the Presidents' Day play obviously.

Carol Brady's diary:

January 8, 1973

The children went back to school today. They're all still very busy with their various activities. Peter and Jan have the play, and Marcia is trying out for head cheerleader. Yes, I hope that turns out better than when Jan wanted to be a pompom girl. Marcia generally has more confidence and grace than Jan, but that's no guarantee. She lost out a cheerleading spot in junior high to Kathy Lawrence after all. Still, I think it's good for the kids to try different things, even if they don't always succeed. (And, yes, Marcia later became friends with Kathy, so that's good.)

January 10, 1973

Greg told me he met a "groovy new chick." She moved here over the holidays and is a sophomore. Her name is Jennifer Nichols and Greg says she's gorgeous but sweet and modest.

"Have you asked her out yet?"

"Yeah, I'm giving her a surfing lesson in the lagoon on Saturday."

I told him to have fun. I'm going out with Mary Ann on Saturday, but we're going to hear different Blenford bands play to figure out who we'll hire for our reception. It has to be a group that can play rock but also slow dances, so it's kind of tricky.

January 11, 1973

Although Peter rehearsed with the family, mostly Bobby, over vacation, he's now rehearsing at school and getting actual direction from the teacher, Miss Goodwin. He told me today that Benedict Arnold isn't an easy role to play. I again said that he should be flattered he was cast in it.

January 12, 1973

Jan spent most of her Christmas vacation drawing set designs, with the help of her father. He even gave her his old drafting tools that he gave to Greg a few months ago.

"I don't know why Greg didn't want to be an architect. I think it would be a blast!"

"Do you think you'd want that for your career?"

"Oh, gosh, I don't know. I thought I wanted to be a nurse when Peter wanted to be a doctor, but I think I'm too young to decide on anything. Even high school is a couple years away."

I nodded and again thought of how I didn't really have any serious career ambitions when I was a teenager. Heck, I still don't.

January 13, 1973

I've taken up golf again! I used to play a little years ago, but it was hard to keep up with once I started a family. But the kids are older now, and I have an incentive.

Greg was going to go golfing with Mike, against Mr. Howell and his nephew. But Greg had to cancel because he has a date with a new girl this afternoon. Her name is Jennifer and he seems quite smitten with her. She's in Marcia's year but Marcia doesn't know her very well.

Obviously, I won't be able to play today, since I need to practice more. But maybe I can be Mike's golf partner someday, as I try to be his partner in other ways.

January 14, 1973

Greg told me he had a great date with Jennifer yesterday. Not only is she as beautiful as the Mona Lisa, especially in a bikini, but she's as sweet and modest as he thought when he met her last week. Even though she picked up surfing really quickly, she insisted that it's because he's such a great teacher.

"She still needs to practice more, but it's fun to teach her."

I nodded and wished I was better than Mary Ann at something. Then again, it's fun to learn things from her. Like cooking and stuff. Especially the stuff.

January 15, 1973

I've been practicing golf when Mike isn't home, since I want to surprise him with my progress. And, well, that may take awhile. Today I was working on putting, with an ashtray in the back yard. And I just wasn't having any luck.

Then Bobby and Cindy came home from school. Bobby said it looked easy and he wanted to try. I looked at my coach, Alice, and I was sure she was thinking as I was that he'd learn it wasn't as easy as he thought. I told him to go ahead.

So of course he "sunk the putt" easily, with beginner's luck. Cindy said, "Yeah, that doesn't too hard," but at least she didn't try, which would've added to my humiliation.

After the kids went into the house, I looked at Alice and said, "How do you like that? He hardly even looks at the ball, just swings, and it goes right in!" I demonstrated his casual attitude, and, yes, the ball went right in.

Alice joked that I'd found the secret to golf, not caring. I think it is important to practice, although Mike joked a couple days ago that he's practiced years and years just to be terrible. I don't know if practice really makes perfect, but hopefully it makes less imperfect.