Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were reminiscing one evening when a revelation struck her. Growing up in Newfoundland, her sisters mainly 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 unknown side to her late father as her brothers shared stories about him.
This realization 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 focus is on their father’s grief following their mother’s death from cancer, other tragic events, like the loss of Morrissey’s brother Ford in a workplace accident four decades ago, also play a significant role.
Reflecting on the experience, Morrissey, who divides her time between Halifax and her home province, shared that hearing her siblings’ untold stories was poignant. Unlike her fictional works, writing this memoir exposed her to raw emotions that even moved her to tears.
The narrative unfolds through chapters narrated from the viewpoints of Morrissey and her siblings, requiring numerous discussions to capture each perspective accurately. Although this process sparked brief tensions among the siblings, Morrissey noted that their bond grew stronger through this shared storytelling experience.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, discussed grief dynamics, emphasizing the enduring emotional connections people maintain with lost loved ones. Morrissey hopes their book prompts readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and serves as a guide for those wanting to document their family history.
As Morrissey and her siblings navigate the challenges of their past, she acknowledges the evolving nature of their shared journey, reinforcing the importance of their unity in the face of life’s trials.