Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were reminiscing over drinks one evening when she had a revelation. Growing up in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters primarily spent time indoors with their mother, while the brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. This pattern persisted into adulthood, and during the family gatherings, Morrissey discovered a new side to her late father through her brothers’ stories.
From that night of storytelling emerged Morrissey’s latest book, titled “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 death from cancer, it also delves into other tragic events, such as the loss 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 how hearing her siblings’ untold stories was emotionally challenging. As an author of numerous fictional works, delving into her family’s memoir brought about raw emotions that even made her tearful.
The book is structured with chapters narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, each chapter clearly indicating the viewpoint. Bringing these stories to life required extensive discussions between Morrissey and her siblings, sparking occasional tensions but ultimately deepening their bond.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, discussed the psychology of grief, highlighting the enduring emotional connection people maintain with their deceased loved ones. Morrissey aims for her book to prompt readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and provide a blueprint for those interested in documenting their family history.
While time has allowed Morrissey and her siblings to confront their shared tragedies, she notes that their stories continue to impact their lives, fostering a deeper sense of unity among them.
Through the poignant narratives in “Tell It to the Water,” Morrissey hopes to inspire readers to explore their own family legacies and cherish the connections that define their lives.