“ just about frantic tonight, cause I didn’t know where Keith was going to stay or anything“ Monday, January 27, 1947
26 Sun. Sang in the Choir this morn. Keith, Margaret & Gord waited for me after, & we went for a grand drive. Saw lots of snow. Day was just beautiful at noon. We had dinner here too & Ruth was here. Sat around. Went down to Marg & Gords about seven. Roda & Stan came. We played rummy. Had coffee. Came home shortly after 11. Talked to Mr. Stewart for awhile. Keith left about one.
27 Mon. Isabelle came to town at noon. Worked all afternoon. Was just about frantic tonight, cause I didn’t know where Keith was going to stay or anything, but we went to the first show & everything turned out alright. It was “Saratoaga Trunk” with Ingrid Bergman & Gary Cooper. Very peculiar show. Had ice-cream afterward. Stood in front porch and talked for ages.
28 Tues. C.C.Y.M. tonight. I went up & met Keith & he went down with us. Had Mr. Ward there with films which were very good. There were about 12 members there. Keith & I went up to Gordons after until nearly one. Those kids are so good to us. I think Keith is pretty swell.
29 Wed. Storming terribly, but men came to town as Mr. Freeman’s Funeral was at 2. Isabelle stayed out of school & went with me. I couldn’t help crying, there were always so good to us. Is. & I lay down awhile. Slept a little. Keith came up at 5. He wanted to stay here overnight, but didn’t get a very good reception. Everything is so muddled up that I was down in the dumps but he got a place at Mackeys. We bowled at 7. Our opposition wasn’t there but we beat their averages, so got 4 points. Keith met me & took me for ice-cream. We were up to Gordons for an hour or so alone. Talked about ourselves.
30 Thurs. Colder than blazes. Isabelle & I went to Choir Practice, then Keith met us there at ten, & came up to the house. Arline made lunch for us. Cheesettes & postum. Keith left at 11 as they were going to paint the steps after he got in.
31 Fri. I have a cold today. Just from loss of sleep I guess. I took Keith to the show at 7. It was “Easy to Wed,” Van Johnson & Esther Williams, in technicolor. Fairly comical. We had ice-cream then came up to the house. He stayed until after one.
Feb 1 Sat. Cold & stormy today, but we came home at noon anyway. I bathed & everything tonight then Keith Isabelle & I went to the Coop Bowling Party. Had a lot of fun. Wilf had all the alleys. It was a scream watching those who had never bowled. Came up to the house here after having lunch in the store basement. My cold has been pretty bad.
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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.