Diamonds in the driveway

Way back when (c. 1979), a friend of my parents, Clarence Weber, published a book called Diamonds in the Driveway. A real incident of his mother’s lost diamond in the family’s driveway was the inspiration, which always intrigued me (especially that they recovered the diamond)!

Clarence’s father who was serving in WW1 at the time, expressed in a letter to his family: “A diamond in the driveway — how symbolic. There are so many events and people in our lives that are ‘diamonds in the driveway,’ if we could only see them.”

His father’s words stuck with him. Clarence’s book, written many decades later, shines a light on ordinary people who dealt with difficult situations in extraordinary ways. His point being that if we are lucky enough to discover these sparkles (people) on the roads we travel, they remain in our memories.

I have always been someone who notices things, especially in nature and my surroundings. No matter who we are and where we are, there are always things to discover if we pay attention. Some of the most beautiful can be right at our feet, not necessarily lost but showing us their beauty and significance just the same.

Being curious and a keen observer is right up there with ‘listen more than you talk,’ invaluable qualities that serve us throughout life. But not only is it great to discover but also to be a steward and support others in making their own discoveries. Paying it forward, as they say.

I still have the original tattered copy of Diamonds in the Driveway, signed by Mr. Weber. He is long passed now but his words linger.