“visited Aunt Ellen from 11 until 12.“ Monday, November 11, 1946
10 Sun. Had bacon & eggs for breakfast. Wilma fainted this morn but, felt better this aft. Roy, David & we girls went to see Aunt Ellen in the Assembly Room. David was just perfect. Made right up to and hugged her. When we got home the men had the table set. After supper, Uncle Allan, Dad, Roy, Wilma & I went to Church. Nice service minister spoke on Freedom. Talked & read for awhile after Roy went to a dance at the Fort at midnight. I had terrible cramps at bedtime. Had hot water bag.
11 Mon. Had cramps off and on all day. We packed & visited Aunt Ellen from 11 until 12. Mom, Dad, Wilma, Isabelle & I. She is looking so well & getting along fine though never sitting up yet. We then drove to Qu’Appelle after we had a grand dinner at the Queens Hotel. Drove to farm out of there to visit Mom’s friend. May Curtz. Left there at 3 & got to Weyburn at 5.30. Enjoyed the trip very much. Family all got along well. Is & I stood in line an hour trying to go to the show. Didn’t get in “Black Beauty” was on.
12 Tues. Back to work. Feel fine. But I had left for a week. Busy all morn. Went to Oil after dinner. Got quite a bit done in two hours but didn’t finish by any means. Lots of work back at the store after. Keith, Marg & Berna Englestad came in to C.C.Y.M. tonight. They gave Doris & I rides down. Had 1 1/2 hours picture shows then a lively discussion. Other visiting Young People never arrived. Good attendance anyway though. Had real nice time. Doughnuts & coffee for lunch.
13 Wed. A most gorgeous day. Just beautiful all afternoon. Worked hard all morn. Took a lesson this aft. Quite good slept & accomplished a bit this aft & evening. Bowled against Dreis Team this eve. Lucille Bagnel is on that team. We talked like everything. I really enjoyed her company. We only got one point. Won last game.
14 Thurs. Tribune Co-op came in with Mimeograph work to do for Saturday afternoon. We worked on it all day to save having overtime, so I didn’t get to the Oil. Washed & set my hair tonight. Doris & I talked a long while about our own personal problems. Then couldn’t get to sleep.
15 Fri. Baby woke up sick & cried for hour it seemed this morn, so we didn’t get much sleep. I went to the Oil from 11 til12 and got some more filing. Went again this aft. Keith came in this aft & asked me to go to the show tonight. He & Marg called for me & we went to the first show. “Three Little Girls in Blue” in technicolor, with June Haver. Pretty good. Keith took me home then. We talked in car until 9.45. Talked about songs etc. Set my hair again tonight as today snow made it straight again.
16 Sat. Real cold today but clear. Is., Wilma, Shirley, Doris & I took the car home. Dad left it in this aft. Boyles were there when we got there, by invitation. Had a real nice supper. David received plenty of attention. We played Finance then music a little while. Had lunch. All in all had a good time. Keith asked me go home with them. Didn’t know what to do, so didn’t go. He came back to the Porch for a kiss. Didn’t have much time alone with him.
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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.