Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were gathered, sharing stories over drinks one evening, when she had an epiphany. While growing up in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters mostly stayed indoors with their mother, while her brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. This family dynamic persisted into adulthood, and during their time together, as her brothers recounted tales of their late father, she realized there was a side of him she had never known.
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.” The narrative primarily revolves around Morrissey’s father coping with the loss of his wife to cancer, with other tragic events such as the death of her brother, Ford, in a workplace accident about four decades ago also playing significant roles.
Reflecting on the experience, Morrissey, who splits her time between Halifax and her home province in the summers, shared that uncovering her siblings’ untold stories was emotionally challenging. Despite being an author of numerous fictional works, delving into her own memoir left her vulnerable to the raw emotions that surfaced. The process even moved her to tears at times.
The book is structured with chapters narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, each chapter clearly indicating the viewpoint being shared. Bringing these stories to life for publication involved extensive discussions between Morrissey and her siblings, delving into the emotions and meanings behind each event recounted.
While tensions briefly arose among the siblings during the process due to their frequent disagreements, Morrissey highlighted that these conflicts were short-lived, as they never harbored grudges and quickly reconciled. Despite their already close bond, the book has further strengthened the connections between Morrissey and her siblings.
Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, shed light on the psychology of grief, emphasizing that even after losing a loved one, people can maintain a dynamic relationship with them. He noted the ongoing emotional attachment and intense bond that can persist post-loss, framing it as a form of “consolation prize.”
Morrissey expressed her aspiration for the book to prompt readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and potentially inspire others to document their family histories. She acknowledged that while time has passed and the family has weathered numerous tragedies, these stories continue to shape their lives, fostering a deeper appreciation for one another.
The memoir not only serves as a tribute to their past but also as a testament to the ongoing journey they navigate together as they age and face vulnerabilities. As Morrissey aptly summarized, “our story is continuing, and we are all growing older and more vulnerable. And yeah, so we cling to each other.”
