Happy Birthday Morgan

May 7 1998 at exactly 10PM Morgan Wray Daliessio took her first breath and began her journey in this world. Every day since that one has been filled with joy with every thought of her, with each bright smile, with each amazing comment.
I have had the privilege of being her daddy for 12 years now. I can't come to grips with where it has gone and with how fast it is flying by.
Years ago my friend Rick wrote a song for his son and it so perfectly encapsulates how I feel for my daughter. I need to post some of the words here. I am working from memory so I can't vouch for exactness but here goes...
"Oh the happiest day I have ever known, was the day you took your first breath.
And to watch you grow in the warmth of the sun, is the only other wish I could ever have.
But if cold night winds should begin to howl and if trouble should come your way
Remember these words I'm telling you now
And all your days I pray you'll call His name
Rain will fall as it surely must, on the heads of the wicked...and the just
God forbid that rain turn your dreams to rust.
And all your days I pray you'll call His name
On that bittersweet day many years from now when you take your first steps on your own
Remember these words I'm telling you now
As much as I've loved you, there is One who loved you more
So if cold night winds should begin to howl and if trouble should come your way
May the warmth of the sun comfort and guide you May those cold night winds stay forever behind you
If you lose your way, know that God will find you
And all your days I pray you'll call His name"
Even before I finished typing those lyrics I was in tears
I guess it's as much because I know Rick and how much he loves his children as it is how perfectly this song says what I feel for my little girl...who isn't so little anymore.
She was perfect. Tiny and quiet and content and perfect. I was so scared and in awe of her. From the moment we found out we were having a baby I knew I loved her. That has never changed.
She has a heart full of amazing dreams and hopes and I am sworn to seeing them come true. I am shaping this arrow of mine and finding targets to aim at. Targets that are a little farther away each time. Each time she flies she travels a little farther from my bow. It's all in preparation for that one bittersweet day...many years from now...when I will know in my soul the target she was meant for and I will put her to flight...through tears and with a pained heart. God will whisper those dreaded words in my ear..."There it is...that's her target...now let her fly!"
I hope I will be ready for that day. I hope I will have her ready for it as well.
Until then, I am racing home to a devastated Nashville TN with a beautiful black Ibanez guitar in my trunk, (THANK YOU Skip D!) because my daughter dreams of making music. 12 years comes and goes so fast and the next 6 will be but a blink and a breath. She is my everything, my sun and sky and moon and stars. and each day with her is the kiss on the lips God gave me to let me know He loved me by giving me such a wonderful daughter, and loved her by giving her a dad who loves her as much as I do.
Happy Birthday Morgan Wray
Each day with you is a birthday present all it's own.
Your Daddy Loves you!

Farewell to a Friend...Peter Zezel, R.I.P.

Peter Zezel died on Tuesday at age 44. Hockey fans will recognize the name because he played for 15 yearsin the NHL. Flyer fans especially will remember Peter in glowing terms because he was a tremendous player on the teams that went to two Cup finals against the Oilers.
Beyond his hockey career, Peter was my friend. I hadn't talked to Pete in quite a few years. An occassional e-mail here and there, but we lost regular contact after he was dealt to St. Louis. For the 6 seasons he played with the Flyers and then a few years afterward, we spoke regularly and socialized frequently. I met Pete at one of Joe Watson's summer hockey camps where he was a guest instructor. We were only 18 months apart and had similar affections...cars, girls, and the beach. Peter had a beautiful 1985 Buick Regal Gran Sport. He had chipped it and had some other work done to it and it was blindingly fast. He loved that car and he'd crowd a bunch of buddies into it and go off on some crazy adventure as lots of 20 year olds will do.
In 1988 Pete was selected "Sexiest Male Athlete of Philadelphia" by Philadelphia magazine. He was embarrassed by it and never let it get to his head. Pete was just one of the guys, hanging out, playing shinny in the summers at U of D and hanging at Maloney's in Margate.
My most enduring memory as a friend will be the game against Boston in 1987. It was the last home game before christmas and I had gotten some tickets and went to the game with a friend. The Flyers were playing Washington the next night and then heading home for a few days for Christmas. After the game, I went out back where the buses were loading for the road trip to D.C. and I didn't see Pete standing outside and assumed he was already on board. Peter happened to glance out the window and saw me and ran off the bus calling my name as I walked away. He gave me a hug and we wished each other Merry Christmas. We talked for a minute or two and then shook hands and went our way. That's the kind of friend he was. In that moment, he wasn't Peter Zezel, Pro Hockey Player...he was Craig's friend Zez, and he wanted to wish me a Merry Christmas.
Godspeed my friend...I miss those days. Thanks for the memories on and off the ice.