Timeline

The 1985 calendar

Marie was remarkably organized, and she kept the family running. Her wall calendar for 1985, the year Chris was born, has a note in her handwriting on nearly every day: appointments, errands, visits and plans for the three of them. Her mother, Bella, was a fourth-grade teacher for her entire career.

Here are Marie’s notes about Ted and his band, the family, friends and neighbors, outings and get-togethers, and Chris: the weeks counted down to his due date, then his age week by week and his firsts, with the days around his birth in full. Where we know who someone is, their full name is given beneath the note.

Each note is spelled as Marie wrote it. Words in [brackets with a question mark] are best guesses, [illegible] marks writing that could not be read, and struck-through words were scribbled out.

The calendar for February 24 to 28, 1985, with “Chris Born” written on the 25th
February 24–28, 1985.

January

  • Tue 16:00 Dinner Knights
  • Wed 2Dr Kalet Mr. B 1:30
  • Thu 3Band 7:30pm
  • Fri 410:00 crunch TedThe calendar for January 4, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Sat 58mts
  • Mon 7Band practice 7:00 · Go to Moms for [infits?]Mom: probably Bella Gargiul, Marie’s mother
  • Sat 1233 wks
  • Sun 13Shower 2:30 Karen
  • Wed 16Dinner [Skon.?]
  • Thu 17Band practice 7:30pm · Go to [Sears?] JoAnne
  • Sat 1934 wks · make orange salad
  • Sun 20Shower Mom 3-4Mom: probably Bella Gargiul, Marie’s mother
  • Tue 22Band 7:30
  • Sat 2635 wks
  • Tue 29Band [7?]:30(hard to read)
  • Wed 30Aunt MarionAunt Marian: Marian Norton

In the margin: Carol Weiman · PatPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)Carol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor

February

  • Fri 1JoAnne
  • Sat 29 mts
  • Mon 4Blood test BillBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Tue 5Class 7:00 movie
  • Wed 6band 7:00The calendar for February 6, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Thu 7Band
  • Sat 937 wks
  • Tue 12Band
  • Wed 13Dr Kalet Bill [3:00?] · BandBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Sat 1638 wks · Due Date
  • Sun 17Mom vacationMom: probably Bella Gargiul, Marie’s mother
  • Mon 25Doctor 1:00 · Chris Born 9:54 · went to hosp. 4:00
  • Tue 26Band
  • Thu 28W.I.C. 10:45 · Birth certificate · came home 11:00am

In the margin: PatPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)

March

  • Thu 7Blood test BillBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Fri 8[sticker: Dinner Out]
  • Tue 12BAND 9-11
  • Wed 13Dr. Kalet [2:00?] Mrs. B + Mr. B
  • Thu 14Band 9-11The calendar for March 14, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Fri 15[sticker: Dinner Out] w/Chris(hard to read)
  • Sun 17MASS 10:00
  • Tue 19Band
  • Wed 207:30 Holiday Inn Waterloo · Lorraine 6:30Lorraine: possibly Lorraine Baran, Ray Baran’s wife
  • Thu 21Band
  • Sun 24Baptism 24th
  • Mon 251 month old
  • Wed 27Karen 9:00

In the margin: Rickie's · PatPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)

April

  • Thu 4Blood test BillBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Sat 6[Joe's?] B
  • Mon 86wks(hard to read)
  • Tue 9Mom BMom B: probably Kathleen Baran, Ted’s mother
  • Wed 10Mr. B 2:00
  • Thu 11Dr. Speck [1?]:30 Ted · [Mom?] B-BirthMom B: probably Kathleen Baran, Ted’s mother
  • Sun 14Get pills for TedThe calendar for April 14, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Mon 15Aunt Marian BAunt Marian: Marian Norton
  • Wed 1711:30 Ted DentistThe calendar for April 17, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Thu 1811:30 Ted Dentist · Bev. B
  • Sat 20Aunt Pat BAunt Pat B: Pat Baran, Jim Baran’s wifeThe calendar for April 20, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Sun 21Aunt PatPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)
  • Mon 228wks old
  • Mon 29JoAnn's 7:00

May

  • Mon 610wKS. · practice
  • Sun 12Ted's pillsThe calendar for May 12, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Mon 1311wks
  • Wed 15crunch 3:00 me + TedThe calendar for May 15, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Thu 16Bill Blood test · practiceBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Fri 17Karen gone
  • Sun 19Karen back · [12?]:00 MomMom: probably Bella Gargiul, Marie’s mother
  • Mon 2012wKS · practice
  • Wed 22Bill 1:00 KaletBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Thu 23American night league
  • Sat 25vacation
  • Mon 2713 WKS · vacation · paradeThe calendar for May 27, in Marie’s handwriting

June

  • Sun 2grandpa [B?] · [sticker: Birthday]
  • Mon 314wKS
  • Tue 4practice · Carol 6:30Carol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor
  • Wed 5Joanne 7:00 · practice
  • Sat 8Mom + Dad B aniv.Mom + Dad B: probably Bill and Kathleen Baran, Ted’s parents
  • Sun 9First flying breakfast
  • Mon 1015wKS · practice
  • Wed 12Mrs. B 2:00
  • Thu 13practice
  • Sat 15Joanne 11-12
  • Mon 1716wKS
  • Wed 19Mr B 1:45 pm
  • Thu 20practice
  • Fri 21Ingrid arrivesIngrid: Ingrid Murray, Ted’s sisterThe calendar for June 21, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Sun 2323 grad party Brian
  • Mon 2417wKS · practice
  • Thu 27practice · Chris went to [airport?]

July

  • Mon 118WK
  • Thu 4Blood test BillBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Mon 819wK
  • Wed 1011:30 musician
  • Thu 11Mr. B. Speck 3:00
  • Fri 12Chris [canus?] parade
  • Sun 14Mom + Dads [A?]Mom + Dads: probably Joe and Bella Gargiul, Marie’s parents
  • Mon 1520wKS 5 mts.
  • Wed 1711:30 musician
  • Mon 2221 WKS · Joann's 7:00
  • Wed 24Mr. B 1:15
  • Thu 25Cynthia 11:30Cynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Sat 27Carol's at about 7:00pmCarol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor
  • Mon 2922wKS

August

  • Fri 2Canton
  • Mon 523wKS
  • Wed 7[sticker: Guests]
  • Fri 91:00 Mr B Speck
  • Sun 119:30 Great race
  • Mon 1224wKS · Monday night Joanne
  • Wed 14[sticker: Lunch Date] [illegible] · music lesson Cindy 1:00 · Spagetti & meatballsCynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Sat 172:00 [Leubner?] party
  • Sun 18[Cynthia?](hard to read)Cynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Mon 19Joanne
  • Wed 21Mr. B 1:30 · Grams Birth · icecream Man
  • Thu 22[go to Moms?](hard to read)Mom: probably Bella Gargiul, Marie’s mother

In the margin: Karen off · Chris wk of.

September

  • Sun 1state fairThe calendar for September 1, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Tue 37:00 Chris + Paul's
  • Wed 4ice cream man
  • Sat 7call Judy for Karen's avon
  • Wed 11Mrs. B 1:00
  • Thu 12White elephant sale · MEISTER'S BIRTHDAY AT [THE?] [illegible]
  • Sat 14[sticker: Dinner Out](hard to read)
  • Wed 18ice cream man
  • Thu 19[hose?] for Karen(hard to read)
  • Sat 21Chris saw twin cousinsThe calendar for September 21, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Tue 24practice
  • Wed 25[sticker: Anniversary] · Rickie's 6:00 · Carol $[26?]⁹⁵Carol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor
  • Sat 28JoAnne 10:30 Websters

In the margin: Karen

October

  • Tue 1Cynthia 7:30 AMCynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Wed 2ice cream man
  • Thu 3Went to mall w/ Karen · Karen vacation
  • Fri 4party Scala
  • Tue 8Cynthia 7:30AMCynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Wed 9Karen vacation
  • Fri 11Wedding
  • Sat 12Wedding · Karen 2.65
  • Sun 13Aunt Marian 1:00 · 23rd annivAunt Marian: Marian NortonThe calendar for October 13, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Mon 1412.75 CarolCarol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor
  • Wed 16[sticker: Schwan's Day]
  • Thu 17pick up JoAnne 7:00 for TOPS
  • Mon 21CynthiaCynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Tue 22CynthiaCynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter
  • Wed 23Mr B 1:30
  • Fri 25Carol 3:00Carol: Carol Weinman, a neighbor
  • Sat 26[sticker: Birthday] · Avon Halloween party
  • Mon 28Pat & Bev · [sticker: Anniversary] · CynthiaPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)Cynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughterThe calendar for October 28, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Wed 30ice cream man

In the margin: [sticker: Night Out]

November

  • Sun 3pancake breakfast
  • Tue 510:00 music lesson
  • Sat 9went to Rickie's w/o Chris
  • Sun 10[sticker: Vacation]
  • Wed 13icecream man
  • Sat 16went to Rickie's
  • Sun 17[sticker: Vacation]
  • Sun 24Ann & Charlie [Hardmaer?](hard to read)
  • Mon 25BANDThe calendar for November 25, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Tue 26BAND · got [Carol's?]Carol: Carol Weinman, a neighborThe calendar for November 26, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Wed 27Mr. B 1:00 Kalet · ice cream man
  • Thu 28JIM HARES AFTER SUPPER
  • Fri 29went up stairs(hard to read)

December

  • Sun 1went to Charlie's & got sneakers
  • Sat 7Aunt Pats at 7:00 craft showPat: Pat Baran, Jim’s wife, or Patty Salvage (née DeLuca)
  • Sun 8craftshow
  • Wed 11Mrs. B 11:00 doctors · ice cream man
  • Thu 12Karen Babysit(hard to read)
  • Sat 14Fry Daddy
  • Mon 16BillBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Mon 23climbed into walker backwardsThe calendar for December 23, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Tue 247:30 churchThe calendar for December 24, in Marie’s handwriting
  • Fri 27HelenHelen: Helen Baran
  • Mon 30Bill 1:00 KaletBill: William Thaddeus Baran, Ted’s father
  • Tue 31Jan. 2nd ice cream man

In the margin: [Cindee?]Cynthia: Cynthia Weinman, a neighbor, Carol’s daughter