“He said the most wonderful things about me.“ Sunday, September 1, 1946
Sept 1 Sun. Beautiful Day. A year can certainly change things. I was very happy today. Mom, Isabelle & David came in to Church, & I went with them. Mr. Watts preached on “love” & was very good. Wilma came out home with us. I ate a piece of pie, then cleaned up. Keith came up for me at two, & we went down to their place. He let me drive all the way from correction line. His whole family are home, including Margy & Stuart. All very nice. We had a lovely chicken dinner. All went to church. Marg, Keith & I with Elmer & Linda. Sermon wasn’t good. All went to Richard Bells for lunch. Keith brought me home at 12 & didn’t leave til 1.45. He said the most wonderful things about me. We had a grand talk. He says I come closest to his ideal of any girl he has taken out. Hated to have him leave.
2 Labor Day. Woke up before 8. rode to Stutts with Mom & Dad. Mom did cleaning & we girls did morning work. Lay down after dinner but didn’t sleep. Got up & Mom fitted my skirts & then Wilma, Shirley & I lay down in the trees & read. Beautiful day. I loved it. Finally, Isabelle came for us & we took the tractor for water. I practiced before supper. Listened to “Our Vines have Tender Grapes,” on Lux Theatre. Violet was up to see Wilma.
3 Tues. Back to work today, Mom brought us to town, including Doris & Geordie. Worked like the dickens. Dusted the front rooms at noon, as there was wedding this aft at 5. Isabelle was here. Read some papers this evening, then Is. talked me into bowling a game. We had to wait quite awhile, then bowled with Jean Sorrel & another kid. I bowled 185. Came home & practiced, then Doris was in bed. I went too.
4 Wed. Isabelle had most of the dishes done when I got home at noon. I put in a terrific morning, people bothering all the time. Took my lesson this aft, wet part of my hair, & lay down. Slept for an hour. When Is. came home we cooked a roast & she made a pudding, so we had a real nice supper. I cleaned up & she came down & watched us bowl at 7.15. As season is open again. Jim Biggs is taking Robertsons place we only got one point, but I sure bowled 165, 140, & 169. My average only 122.
5 Thurs. Day went very quickly. I didn’t even have time for coffee. Isabelle went to the first show, “Dolls” & Geordie went out. Rained a little tonight. I practiced, cleaned shoes, washed & pressed my sheer blouse. Made a good job on it, too.
6 Fri. Rainy, dreary & cold. Was going to go to the first show, but Doris called an Executive Meeting, so we had it here from 8 til 9. All the kids were here excepting Isabelle. Fairly good meeting. Everyone left, so I set all my hair. Nearly froze, so drank hot water & took a hot bath.
7 Sat. I started writing Dividend Cheques. Wilt took over the Accounts Receivable, so haven’t much definite work. Keith came to the house at suppertime. He met me at the store at 9.30, came to the house & waited for me to pack my things, then we went out home. Girls had asked us to. Family was up except kids. We talked til after eleven, then Is. & Wilma gave us lunch. Ice-cream, cake & cookies & coffee. Rest retired, & we took over the chesterfield. Had a spoony time until after three. Ridiculous time.
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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.