“went to Aunt Mena’s, took her a gift.” Tuesday, October 24, 1944
21 Sat. Gave Wilma & Shirley each lessons. Washed my hair & set it. Did a lot of little things. The girls couldn’t get a ride to town this aft. So sewed etc. I took a bath, then went to bed before ten.
22 Sun. Isabelle & Wilma helped me with figures in Book.K. this morn. Doris came up & got the chairs at noon. We went to S.S. this afternoon. No church because Mr. Stuart was away. Did some Book K. after, then we all went down to Stutts for supper. McGugans went too, also Mr. Freeman & Myrna. We had a very nice meal, then talked in the evening. We stayed til 9.45, then went home. I couldn’t go to sleep til late.
23 Mon. Mom & Dad brought us to town on their way to Froude. Had a pretty good day at school. Did a little shopping. Mom & Dad stopped on their way back here after Doris vigorously waved them back. She & I listened to Lux, then I did homework. She, Mrs. S., Louise & I sat in the kitchen. Had a lot of fun. Nearly 11 when we went to bed.
24 Tues. The wind & dust was terrific today. Stutts were in town. We sat in the truck & ate a chocolate biscuit, then went to Aunt Mena’s, took her a gift, and had a piece of her cake. Came home & wrote a letter. Had supper, then did homework til 9.30. Then Doris & I walked down to Snelgroves & had a ham sandwich. Came home & went to bed after 10.30
25 Wed. Had a pretty good morning. Wrote to Aunt Jessie at noon. Came right home after school, and had supper at 5.30. Doris and I went to the hospital on the bus to see Marg Brown. We had to wait 20 min. for the bus to come home & did work. Mr. Stuart helped me do my Bookkeeping til 11 o’clock. It balanced, but boy am I tired! Had cocoa. Bed at 11.45.
26 Thurs. Read the papers at noon. Saw Dad, Mr. S. & Isabelle after school. Did a little shopping, then came home & I did a washing, also cleaned bedroom floor & Doris dusted. I practiced the piano a few min. before supper, also in the evening. Doris & I helped with dishes, then did very little homework. Went down town. Had pie at the club. Came home & wrote letters to “Calling All Girls”.
27 Fri. Packed at noon. Went back to school fairly early. Mother & the girls were in at the show. We got home around six. Didn’t accomplish anything tonight. Went to bed but couldn’t sleep for awhile.
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These are the diaries of a seventeen-year-old teenager from a farm near Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Her name is Lorraine. She eventually was a church organist in Colgate. In 1944 she was the piano player for a dance band in Weyburn. In these days before school busses she, and her sisters, each had to move from the farm into town to attend school for Grades 11 & 12. This is the darkest time in World War II. Weyburn hosted an airbase for BCATP (British Commonwealth Air Training Plan). In other words, the town is filled with eligible young airmen from all over the world …
For more information on BCATP see a blog site dedicated to “Paying homage to those who stayed behind to train those who fought overseas.”