“I ate with Dad.“ Saturday, February 22, 1947
16 Sun. Slept til nearly ten. Service in our own Church. Is & I both went in the Choir. My foot hurt pretty badly, as I had to wear my shoe. Slept awhile this afternoon. Stewarts were away for supper. She left lunch ready for Grandpa & we girls. We went to Church again tonight. Had practice after, until nearly 9.30, to make up for missing last week I guess. Doris & I talked in bed until 12.30 about our respective boy friends, marriage, etc.
17 Mon. Wilf & Mr. Powers were at a Directors Meeting for part of the afternoon, so Grace & I were alone. My foot is much better. I can wear my loafer now at the store. I finished crocheting around my doily tonight. Practice for an hour. Had toast, pudding & chocolate cake before going to bed.
18 Tues. Much colder again today. We stayed in again this evening. I started knitting gloves. Think I am going to like it. Haven’t knit for six years. Is. helped me along.
19 Wed. Lay down awhile after lesson, but couldn’t sleep, so washed my hair, bathed, etc. etc. etc. Cleaned out all my drawers, got the junk ready to send home. Stayed in again tonight. Did some more knitting.
20 Thurs. Heard today that the mail goes to Colgate on Friday, so I wrote a hurried note to Keith before Choir practice, & enclosed the pictures. We practiced from 8 until 10.10 without a break tonight. Learning two Cantatas for Easter.
21 Fri. Bowled Standard Garage at 7.15. Got three points, but I didn’t get my average once. Is. went down with me. We had pumpkin pie alamode after, then set my hair when we came home.
22 Sat. Dad & Wilma came to town. Wilma had dinner with Miss Fahlman, then they went to the show. Is. & I ate with Dad. Had a good dinner & really talked, about Trip East this year. Dad said he couldn’t say for sure yet. I sure hope we can go. Is & I went to the first show tonight. “Blue Skies” with Bing Crosby & Fred Astaire in technicolor. Parts of it were very good.
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.
I did not realize how close Uncle Keith and Aunt Lorraine were to Gordon and Marg Ledingham (I’m assuming).
And, I’m being lazy here, however, I did not know Grandpa Butters very long and I don’t recall his given name.
Interesting times living in 1947, working and courting.
Grandpa Butters was Harry Clifford. Working, courting and …. Blizzards! I think Gordon might have been the closest in age to Dad, of all of Aunt Mary’s kids, but don’t know for sure. They were couples where I believe that all four relationships worked …