Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were reminiscing and sharing stories one evening when she had a poignant realization. Growing up in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters spent most of their time indoors with their mother, while her brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. This pattern persisted into adulthood whenever the family gathered. During the storytelling session about their late father, Morrissey discovered an unfamiliar side of him.
This revelation inspired 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 primarily focuses on Morrissey’s father coping with the loss of his wife to cancer, it also delves into other tragic events, including the death of Morrissey’s brother, Ford, in a workplace accident four decades ago.
Reflecting on this experience, Morrissey, who splits her time between Halifax and her home province in the summers, expressed the emotional impact of hearing her siblings’ untold stories. Despite her extensive background in writing fiction, delving into her family’s memoir brought raw emotions to the surface, even bringing her to tears at times.
The book is structured with chapters narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, each chapter clearly denoting the viewpoint. Crafting these stories for publication involved numerous discussions and probing questions among the siblings, occasionally leading to brief tensions that were quickly resolved. Despite their close bond, the process of creating the book has further strengthened the connection among Morrissey and her siblings.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, highlighted the complex nature of grief, emphasizing the enduring emotional ties people maintain with their deceased loved ones. He noted that over time, individuals may evolve in how they perceive and relate to those they have lost.
Morrissey envisions her book as a catalyst for readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and as a guide for those wanting to chronicle their family history. With the passage of time, Morrissey and her siblings have grown closer, finding solace in their shared experiences and the resilience that binds them together. The memoir serves as a testament to their ongoing journey of healing and understanding.
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