Donna Morrissey had a moment of realization while sharing stories and drinks with her four siblings one evening. Raised in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters spent much time indoors with their mother, while their brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. Even as adults, this pattern persisted within the family dynamics.
During the storytelling session about their late father, Morrissey discovered a side of him that was previously unknown to her. This experience inspired her 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 his wife’s passing due to 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 the process, Morrissey expressed how hearing her siblings’ untold stories was emotionally challenging. Unlike her fictional works, writing this memoir left her vulnerable, even bringing her to tears at times.
The narrative unfolds through chapters narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, each chapter clearly indicating the viewpoint. Crafting the stories for publication involved numerous discussions among the siblings, with probing questions to capture the essence of their experiences.
Although tensions briefly arose during these conversations, Morrissey emphasized that the siblings, despite their occasional disagreements, always reconcile quickly, fostering an even stronger bond through the book.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, shared insights on grief, highlighting the enduring emotional connection individuals maintain with deceased loved ones. He noted that as people age, their perceptions of their departed loved ones evolve.
Morrissey aspires for her book to prompt readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and to serve as a guide for those interested in documenting their family history. Despite revisiting past tragedies in the book, she noted how these experiences have brought her closer to her siblings, reinforcing their precious bond.