My Father would often reply to the question of how he was with “any day you are doing business above ground is a good day.” His attitude primarily was based on his conviction that life in itself was a marvelous experience. There are moments, and sometimes longer periods when I lose sight of that conviction. Wrapped up in thoughts or issues that may not be earth shattering the magnificence of all that surrounds me can be lost. There is so much that can be labeled as diamonds in the ordinary experiences that will be in my world today. The sounds of the city, or the laughter of a child, the countless buds breaking through the earth and announcing the coming of Spring. It is all there for me to immerse myself, but it requires the conscious reflection that life is an adventure filled with mountain tops and valleys. Being above ground makes this another one of those once in a lifetime experiences.