“I am nineteen today.“ Saturday, December 1, 1945
25 Sun. I addressed some Christmas Cards today. We were going to invite Freemans over, but didn’t. I played the piano awhile, & Dad got out his mouth organ. Played a little after Dad did his chores, then went to bed. Really a very nice day. Wrote Pert & Dean tonight.
Played my Mom here!
26 Mon. Mr. Stutt brought us to town. Mr Powers is away to Winnipeg. Fairly good day. Bowled tonight. Happy Hurst subbed for Mr Sorrell, & tried to keep his average down, so didn’t bowl very well. I could have shot him. I had two good games, 153 & 120. The other was 88. Isabelle went down with me. We had lunch with Joyce & Irene.
27 Tues. Turned out nice. Doris & I debated whether to go to the first show or skating. We ended up skating at nine o’clock. It was adults night. So Alice & Eriel, Myrt Swanson, etc. were there. Quite a few of them asked me to skate. The ice was rather soft, but I had a fairly nice time. We went down town but the Com. was closed, so came home & had toast & P. Butter.
28 Wed. Another beautiful day. The morning kind of dragged, as there wasn’t much business. However, I finished a letter to Ruth. I’m stiff from skating. Wrote in my diary this aft, then at 3 o’clock, went through the Mental with Arline, Mr. S. and Miss Anderson. Doris, Isabelle & I saw the show “Junior Miss.” It was a scream. Came home & washed my hair.
29 Thurs. Nice day again. Stewart’s went to Regina. The girls got dinner. I took off another balance today & got it about 5.30. We stayed home tonight. I did some knitting. Stewarts got home late. Stutts & Mom called in here on their way back to Regina. The women talked awhile.
30 Fri. Got pretty well finished up at work. Wasn’t sure whether I had to play with them for the St. Andrews Dance, so went back to work from 7.30 until nine. Then went to the hall & found that they had a pianist, so went back to work from 9.15 to 9.45 or so. Mr. Powers was working in the Office & Alf, Keith & Dot put the xmas decorations up downstairs. They look lovely.
Dec 1 Sat. I am nineteen today. Ivy gave me a gorgeous set of powder box and two perfume bottles. I worked had all day being the first of the month. Went for coffee with Mom & the girls, we all went to Stutts for supper after work. Nice supper, but rather a boring evening. Doris gave me a lovely rose plastic picture frame. Bed at nearly ten.
Click Here to view a scan of the handwritten original
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.