“Lovely day. Business was good.“ Friday, April 5, 1946
31 Sun. I got up after 9.30. Jean Bowditch invited us down there for dinner at 12.30, our time. Had a lovely dinner, Pumpkin Pie & whipped cream. Talked this aft. Jean took an awful spell very suddenly, but got better. She insisted that we stay for supper. It was very nice. Mom fixed a costume for me when we came home.
Apr 1 Mon. Mr. Stutt brought us to town. Alice was going to practice with Is & I tonight, but the front room is varnished so we couldn’t get at the piano. Went down to the Church but Meetings were on there so gave up on the idea. Genevieve came back here with us & we kids spent the evening upstairs fooling around. Doris was out.
2 Tues. Stewarts left this morning for Manitoba as I gulped dinner then we kids went down to the Church & practised our song at noon. Tonight we girls all tore around & hurried down to the Hostess Club at 7.30 to get ready for our Parents C.C.Y.M. Entertained them with a program. Went over pretty well, though late in starting. Everyone seemed to enjoy himself. Lots of lunch. Isabelle & I sang “Shine On Harvest Moon” in costume. We came home and washed three meals dishes.
3 Wed. Worked like the dickens this morn, but still didn’t get caught up. Mr. Powers & Wilf went to Directors Meeting, so we were alone for check-up. Got finished about 1.45 then I came home, grabbed a bit for dinner, then went to the Annual Shareholders Meeting in the I.O.O.F. It started at 1.30 & quit at 5.30. Really was a very good meeting. Had a good speaker, Mr Stahl from Regina. Stayed in this eve.
4 Thurs. Windy and dusty. Worked hard to try and get the bills caught up. Alice made a chocolate cake for supper, but the lard was rotten and we nearly died laughing. We all went to the first show. It was Lorraine Day and Robert Young in “Those Endearing Young Charms.” Really muggy & mushy. Short picture. I enjoyed it though the plot was rather weak.
5 Fri. Lovely day. Business was good. Mom & Wilma came to town for Isabelle. I worked like the dickens but just can’t get caught up. Stewarts still aren’t home so Doris & I were alone for supper. Mr. Powers gave us all a ride home. Stayed in tonight. Doris read to me while I did my hair.
6 Sat. Terrific business again today. $1500. Have averaged $1000 a day all week. I worked like the dickens. Isabelle, Wilma & Shirley came to town. Shirley took a lesson, then I went home with them. Had a nice evening. I washed my hair. First time in 4 weeks.
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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.