Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were sharing stories and drinks one evening when she had an epiphany. Growing up in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters primarily stayed indoors with their mother, while her brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. This pattern persisted into adulthood, leading to Morrissey realizing there was an undiscovered side to her father as her brothers recounted stories about him.
From that night of revelry emerged Morrissey’s latest book, “Tell It to the Water: Five Siblings Tell of Their Father’s Grief and His Struggle Back to Hope.” While the book focuses on Morrissey’s father coping with his wife’s cancer-related death, it also delves into other tragic events, such as the passing of Morrissey’s brother, Ford, in a workplace accident four decades ago.
Reflecting on the experience, Morrissey, who splits her time between Halifax and her home province, expressed the emotional impact of hearing her siblings’ untold stories, describing it as a poignant moment. Despite being a seasoned author of fictional works, delving into a memoir like this exposed her to raw emotions, evoking tears and trembling in her voice.
The chapters of the book are narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, with each chapter clearly attributing the viewpoint. The process of preparing the stories for publication involved numerous discussions between Morrissey and her siblings, with probing questions aimed at clarifying intentions behind certain passages and capturing the emotional essence of various events.
Although these discussions occasionally led to brief tensions among the siblings, who, according to Morrissey, have a habit of arguing but quickly reconcile, the collaborative effort brought them even closer. While the family has always been tight-knit, the book further strengthened the bond between Morrissey and her siblings.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, shared insights on grief with CBC News, emphasizing the enduring emotional connection people maintain with deceased loved ones. He highlighted how individuals continue to nurture relationships post-death, viewing it as a form of solace amid loss.
Morrissey expressed her desire for the book to prompt readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and inspire those interested in documenting their family history. Despite the tragedies her family has faced, she emphasized that the passage of time has allowed them to cherish each other more deeply, underscoring the ongoing impact of their shared experiences on their lives.