“The whole family was heathenish.“ Sunday, October 20, 1946
20 Sun. I was dead to the world, as Isabelle & Doris went up to South Weyburn School. Dad went threshing at Stutts after dinner. The whole family was heathenish. Mom & I cooked dinner for the dug-out diggers who were left here. We girls went out and watched them work at Stutts this aft. I made a real raid on my bedroom. Cleaned up everything was quite a nice day. Read awhile this eve after bathing. We were in bed at 9.30 fast time.
21 Mon. Mom brought us to town. Fairly nice day, we listened to Lux Theatre tonight, then went and bowled late. I had three good games, 144, 140 & 129, but we still only got one point. Mr. Sorrell didn’t do so well.
22 Tues. Beautiful day. Worked some on invitations for the Social Club. Did some work tonight. Doris went to Badminton, so I was in bed at 9.30 and went right to sleep.
23 Wed. Mr. P. & Wilf were away the morn, so just Mae & I were there. She left at 11.30. John O helped run off the invitations. Had a lesson this aft them Keith phoned long distance & wanted me to go to Goodwater Fowl Supper. He & Marg were in here at 4.30. His folks, Wilma, Isabelle went with us too. Had a good supper. The program was just fair. We went in the car & waited for the dance to start. Had a fairly good time at it. I think the girls enjoyed the evening. We were back in town by 1.30. Keith didn’t leave until 2.30.
24 Thurs. Had a real good morning. Got the invitations in the mail, which have been bothering me. Felt fine this morn, but nearly died this aft. Monthly sickness & I thought I’d die. Could hardly work. But after coffee & an aspirin, I felt better. Felt O.K. this evening. Got a lot of work done this evening. Bed early.
25 Fri. Fairly nice day. Little cool tonight. Isabelle, Doris, Stewarts & Arline went to the show. I kept the baby, set my hair, washed stockings, etc. Was all finished by ten.
26 Sat. Felt bright for Saturday. Mom & Shirley took us home. Keith came up tonight. He, Isabelle, Wilma & I came to town to the show. “Janie Got Married,” with Robert Sutton & Joan Leslie. Fairly good. Girls made lunch at home afterwards. Shirley & girl from Sterlings slept in front room so I sat on Keith’s knee in rocking chair in kitchen. I love him so much. We talked about necking & he keeps saying how much he thinks of me.
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.
These diary entries are and have been historical and interesting. Now I find myself feeling like I’m illicitly looking over the shoulder of the young woman who would become my Aunt, when she was expressing her deepest inner thoughts to her true secret friend, her diary.
Our grandkids are taught so much by fiction. I am impressed that they get a glimpse of real life.