“Keith proposed to me tonight. I didn’t give him an answer.“ Saturday, January 25, 1947
19 Sun. Nice bright day. Isabelle & I both sang in Choir this morn, & she joined the Church. Three others joined also, all from the Choir. It was very effective. We had Communion. Doris, Isabelle & I walked over to Peppers to see Linda. Didn’t stay long. Looked in at the rink & at Badminton. Sang in the choir again tonight. Think I am going to enjoy it very much. Read a little.
20 Mon. Cold again today. Alf, Marj, Doris, Ritchie, Mae & I ate lunch tonight in the Coffee Bar. We bowled at 7.15. Won 3 points. Really was thrilling & a lot of fun against Vanity Dry Cleaner. I got 152, 171 & 114. I practiced for nearly an hour. Doris & Isabelle had done washing, etc. Decided they will be career girls. Not so complicated.
21 Tues. Cold again. Keith phoned me at work about 2.05. I couldn’t say much with Will & Grace sitting there, so was rather blunt, & feel worse than ever now. Washed the dishes, & Doris dried them. I washed my hair & washed towels & my pyjamas. Set my hair. Got finished all this after 3 1/2 hours. Think I’ll be a career girl.
22 Wed. Beautiful day. Had a good lesson. Lay down but couldn’t sleep. Isabelle & I pressed out Choir Gowns. I set my hair again. Isabelle & I listened to the radio. I did quite a bit of crocheting.
23 Thurs. Harm Stutts were waiting for Isabelle & I at the door of the store tonight at 6. Great to see them. Beautiful all day. Thawed terrifically. Almost got sun out. Practiced til ten in Choir tonight.
24 Fri. Is came down at noon, & Dad & Wilma were in with team, so we four had dinner at Dickson. Enjoyed it very much. Isabelle went home in sleigh with Stutts, & Harm & Edith went too. I went to the show tonight with Doris, Ruth & Doreen. It was Errol Flynn & Eleonor Parker in “Never Say Goodbye.” Comical.
25 Sat. Keith came to town about noon. Gee, I was sure tickled to see him. We went to the show again with Marg & Gord then they went curling & we went up to their suite. Got home at 2, but I brought him in & gave him his Birthday Present, so it was 3 when I got to bed. Keith proposed to me tonight. I didn’t give him an answer. Don’t think I am ready to be married yet, but was really thrilled.
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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.