“He kissed me once, then kissed me twice, not all at once. Said he might see me before Stuarts Wedding next Saturday.“ Saturday, August 10, 1946
4 Sun. None of we kids felt like going to Church. Robert came home with Wilma on the bus last night, so Isabelle took he & Shirley up to Sunday School. We lay down after dinner. The three of us in my bed & talked & laughed then slept a couple of hours. Mom didn’t feel well so lay down after she got supper ready. Us kids wanted to go to Monty’s tonight, but thought Sadie & Ralph might be __ so didn’t. Freemans came over for awhile. It was hot all day.
5 Mon. Awfully hot!! Mom brought us into town. Mr. Powers is back from his holidays today. Fairly good business. Had planned to go to bed early, but Eriel phoned at 7 & wanted me to go the show with her, which I did. It was “Spiral Staircase” with . Rather gruesome, but a really good picture. We had chocolate sundaes. Than I came home & wrote a letter, so didn’t get to bed until after eleven.
6 Tues. Heat terrific. Doris & I walked over to Goudees after supper for a few min. Came the long way home. I practiced my singing lesson. At nine I was going to do part of my hair, & we were going to go right to bed. However, Keith & Mr. Boyle & Miss Kitson came up. The latter wanted to wash. We talked awhile, then went down to meet the train as Margaret was coming in. It got in about 11. In the meantime we left some suits at the store as I could take them to the Dry Cleaner tomorrow.
7 Wed. Wind was terrible, & cold. Didn’t quite get caught up this morn. Set part of my hair & slept a couple of hours this aft. Got supper ready & did the dishes. Was in a heck of a mess when Keith & Mr. Boyle came. I made Doris answer the door. Then came in & talked awhile from 7.15 to 8.15 waiting for the bus to come in. I do think that he should phone before coming. Doris went to the bowl league dance with Geordy. I can’t remember, but must have got to bed at a decent time.
8 Thurs. Actually got the charges all entered to date. Saw Lorna at noon, so asked her if she’d go to the show. We went about 7.20 then had ice-cream & walked home. Show was Betty Sutton in the “Stork Club,” with Barry Fitzgerald. Really cute. I was in bed, when Doris came home, so she talked to me for quite awhile. Miserable day.
9 Fri. Was going to stay in tonight, but Eriel phoned & wanted me to go walking with her as it was such a beautiful evening. We were out for about an hour. Had lunch then came to the house & gossiped awhile. I set my hair. Did my nails & washed after Eriel left. Doris brought her gang home & they cooked hamburgers at midnight. I could sure smell them, but went to sleep anyway.
10 Sat. Did a lot of little things that have needed doing. Mom & Shirley went home with me at suppertime, & we ate with Doris & Evelyn. I cleaned up. Keith came to the office just before nine, then met me sharp at 9.20. We went to the show again even though I had seen it. I enjoyed it. We came right out home at 11.50. I made lunch, & we talked until 2, which I enjoyed very much, a little more on the serious side. He started to leave at 2, & got away at 2.45. He kissed me once, then kissed me twice, not all at once. Said he might see me before Stuarts Wedding next Saturday.
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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.