When Marianne Van Osch moved to Bradley Creek in the summer of 1993, it was something to write home about.
Now the local author has turned those letters that she had sent to a friend in Ontario into a charming tale of a whirlwind year spent in the South Cariboo. Part-memoir, Letters from Bradley Creek paints a vivid picture of what life was like in 100 Mile nearly 30 years ago.
Seen through Van Osch’s eyes, the self-published book draws you to everything that is great about this region - the variety of birds, wildlife, the plethora of lakes, and most of all, the sense of community that was prevalent in rural areas in the 1990s.
In her free-flowing and breezy style, Van Osch takes you on a trip down memory lane, sharing eye-opening moments and funny anecdotes as she experienced Cariboo life at its fullest.
One could almost imagine riding along with her on her first snowmobile ride when she realized she would need to get a pair of snow pants, or the jitters she felt being eyed by the neighbourhood bull every time she left home and came back again.
For those who have never been to the Cariboo, the book also gives you a quick read of the quirky characters of the region, especially in Bradley Creek - from Betty Bokovay, who would chase the local grader with a bag of homemade muffins, to Marg Huber, who brought her bag of musical instruments to every community event and got everyone singing and dancing.
Joining Van Osch on her journey - whether she is helping her husband fix their house, snowmobiling into town or dropping in for breakfast at the Forest Grove store - brings the reader a sense of peace in an idyllic countryside. It also offers a historical snapshot of a different era, when 100 Mile was bustling with sawmills and the town and schools buzzing with people.
Although a quick read - it’s only 89 pages - this latest offering from Van Osch tugs at your heart and makes you want to go out and drop in on your neighbours or just sit in the sun watching the birds.It also makes you want to know what happened next for Van Osch, who hints at the end that their plan for Bradley Creek fell apart and the road took her on “another life in the Cariboo.”
Looking forward to a sequel.
Letters from Bradley Creek and other books by Van Osch can be found at Nuthatch Books.