“Dad, Keith & kids dug the car out.“ Sunday, March 16, 1947
16 Sun. Feel rather miserable with my cold. We kids, (5 of us) walked down and watched the snow plough & bulldozer working at Stutts. Really wonderful. Talked to Mrs. S. while we kids played ping pong before dinner. Dad, Keith & kids dug the car out. Had pineapple sundaes for supper. I can’t sing but played the piano. Everyone went to bed at 10. I do love Keith, & his affection for me is wonderful.
17 Mon. Mom & Dad brought us to town in the car. It was drifting badly & we got stuck at the Church, but Willis & Ed Sterling pushed us out. I curled on the Beggs Rink in the Novelty Bonspiel. We lost 9-8. I rather like it. Home at 9.30. Fell asleep as soon as I hit the pillow.
18 Tues. Wrote in my diary, washed stockings, tried to practice my singing, but my throat is awful. It makes me very mad. Spent the evening in. Went to bed in good time.
19 Wed. Wasn’t busy at work this morn. I washed & set my hair & bathed. Wrote a fairly long letter to Keith. Curled at 9 tonight, we won this time. I enjoyed it much more too as there were more there and I was feeling better.
20 Thurs. Isabelle curled & won. My throat is terrible, but I went to Choir Practice anyway, as this is the last one before our Cantata. We were out at 9.30, earliest ever. Came home in the car.
21 Fri. Wilf didn’t come to work until noon, so grace was here this morning. Weather is lovely. We bowled at 7.15 against Hurricanes. Lost 4 points. The first time we have been skunked this winter. Went to the C.C.Y.M. Dance in the I.O.O.F. Had boring time. I left at 11 as want to get my throat better before Sunday.
22 Sat. Thawing terribly. Folks all came to town in the car. I set my hair & bathed tonight. Isabelle was sick & vomited. We both went to bed early, but I didn’t sleep so very well.
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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.