“Two months ago today, I came to town, haven’t been home since.“ Thursday, February 27, 1947
23 Sun. Fairly cold. Good attendance at Church. Had spareribs for dinner, which mom sent in from home, also ice-cream which Is. & I made last night. Enjoyed it very much. She & I went to hospital on bus to see Mr. Kurtz. Found him very hard to talk to. He is so white. Had a little sleep & went to Church again tonight. Choir practiced until 9.20.
24 Mon. It certainly wasn’t Blue Monday. I got a wonderful letter from Keith on my way to work. Kept saying how much he misses me. My heart kind of jumps every time I read things like that. Good day, then we bowled Ken Pettits team tonight & beat them. We got 4 points. Gee! was I happy, as there is no one I would sooner beat, and now were ahead of Western Grocers. I practiced awhile then went to bed, but couldn’t get to sleep. Bowled 159,122 & 177.
25 Tues. Men were curling this aft, so I really didn’t work very hard. I locked vault, then we all went back to work tonight for stocktaking. I worked with Norman on forwards after we had checked the cash. First time I had ever taken stock, we quit at 10.30, then had coffee. I came right home, but couldn’t sleep.
26 Wed. I was awake awfully early tis morn. Had to be at work by 8. Men went curling again at 10.30. Grace & I stayed in office all day, & worked on Accts. Rec. We got them balanced & all ready for mailing. Had an hour & 1/2 at noon, so I set part of my hair, & finished it at suppertime. We all worked for 3 hours again tonight, We got everything pretty well under control. I was awfully tired. Took a sponge bath before bed.
27 Thurs. Two months ago today, I came to town, haven’t been home since. Had a pretty good day at work. Felt much better than I did yesterday. Brought a new pair of shoes at noon. Got out of Choir Practice before ten tonight. The wave in my hair is beautiful, if I do say so myself.
28 Fri. Much nicer today. Things really hummed in the Office. Collected Accounts, etc. No School this aft, so Isabelle worked. She went to watch curling tonight, Doris went to the show. I patched, mended & sewed everything in sight. Doris & Is. Came home about 11.20, we drank tomato juice.
Mar 1 Sat. Just ran around in circles all morn. But got the Deposit to the bank before twelve. Really was busy all day. Is & I had dinner with the men at the Dickson. Enjoyed it very much. Is & I went to the first show “Canyon Passage” in tech. with Dana Andrews. Fairly good. Gook a bath & set my hair, then went to bed about 11.00. Eriel went to the show with us.
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.