Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Leah's Gift, A Story about Reframing Loss is former Jasperite Destanne Norris' new book about her compelling journey from grief to healing.
The book cover, a painting of a toddler splashing joyfully in the water, has an uncanny connection with events that changed Norris' and her family's life on June 12, 1995. It is an image Norris painted 25 years ago. At the time, she said, she didn鈥檛 know where the image had come from. She was 25 years old and not even thinking of being a mother.
Its meaning remained a mystery to Norris until 1995, ten years later, when she and her husband, Norman Brown and their three children were enjoying a picnic at the Sixth Bridge at Maligne River.聽
Life changed forever when one-and-a-half year old Leah drowned and was found two hours later.
"During those two hours there were very strong moments of, 'Oh my gosh, how could I not have known this?'" Norris said.
She remembered a look that Leah had given her a couple of hours before the picnic and Norman during the picnic, a look of "a knowingness without knowing".
There was an outpouring of support from the community after the tragedy.
"Especially when it's a child, there's a lot of heavy hearts," she said.
Norris produced an exhibition at Sunrise Galleries in Jasper a year later to honour Leah. "Basically I knew I had to paint," she said. "This is where I knew where I was鈥� there could be no fault, no blame."
More than 25 years have passed since Leah died. Norris said to get to where she is now, she had to change the questions she was asking herself from 鈥榃hy me? Why did I have to go there?' to 'How would Leah want me to be living?'
鈥淭he way to honour her life was to live more purposely, more gratefully,鈥� Norris said.
She hopes the readers of her book realize "it's never too late to allow your healing journey to work its way through you, trusting what you know to be true for yourself and then acting upon it".
Norris lives in Vernon, B.C and is known for her luxurious landscape oil paintings. She left a salaried managerial position in mid-September to pursue painting full time.
"It's about being present in nature and in the studio, while painting, while living life's mysteries,鈥� she said in a media release.
鈥淚t's about being curious, being okay with not knowing, being open to learning and considering different perspectives, possibilities and making new discoveries.
鈥淚t's about making connections. That's why I paint.鈥�
Norris said, "We're all on our path on the healing journey. Allow yourself time and space. Allow it. That's the most important thing. When you suppress it, it'll find its way out in other ways: physical health, relationship issues, emotional health, mental health. Life and death are one. To honor your loved one, live your life with love."
Norris is in town on Oct. 8 for a book signing event at the Inn Grill restaurant from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
