I know people in high places

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I doubt if you told the policeman who stops you for speeding that you know people in “High Places” would help you much. You might find yourself on the second floor of the county jail.

Knowing people in high places sometimes helps. The old saying,” It’s not what you know, it’s who you know that gets you the job.”

It doesn’t seem fair, but it happens. My problem is I haven’t been around too many high up people. A few who got high but that’s a different story.

I don’t do political letters, but I did get a letter from former president Barack Obama the other day. As soon as I opened it, I knew Barack hadn’t personally sent it.

It said Dear Donald. Surely Barack knows I go by Don.

Mary and I get a Christmas card from the “First Family” every year. You see, Mary has a niece who married a nice fellow whose last name is “First.”

Therefore, a card from the First Family. It impresses some of the neighbors at the mailbox but not all.

High places usually have the advantage. Any military person knows if you have the high ground you have the advantage over those down below.

If you want to see farther away, you get up on high ground. Being in a high building lets you see more, like being on top of the Empire State Building.

Of course, people who go up there pay to look through a telescope to look at the people down on the street. You might as well have saved your money. If you live in the penthouse, you apparently have made it to the top.

Getting to high places challenges a lot of people.

My friend in Florida, Dr. Bo Whitney, climbed Mount Everest. When I asked him why, he simply stated, “because it was there.” Unfortunately, he got his legs frostbitten and had to wear special stocking the rest of his life.

Many people think mountains are put there for them to climb. I’ll stay on the ground and look up. I went to Lookout Mountain once. Up there they say you can see seven states. I looked but I didn’t see any boundary lines. It’s usually too foggy to see anything anyway.

Some states claim the highest points. Now when you are in Florida you might be on top of their highest point and not know it.

We visited a friend in Mount Dora, Florida who thought that was the highest elevation in the state but to find out it doesn’t even come close. Since Sugarloaf Mountain is called a mountain, you would think it would be their highest.

Yes, there is a Sugarloaf Mountain in Florida. (Bicyclist like to brag they rode their bike up Sugarloaf Mountain without stopping to rest). But to find out Britton Hill beats them all, and it’s just a hill.

Well it seems to be something to argue about while sitting at a bar. Anyway, if Florida ever starts sinking when I’m there I’m heading to Mt. Dora. They’ve got a great bar there.

Don Hill is a resident of Seymour and has served as a volunteer at Southern Indiana Center for the Arts for more than a quarter of a century. Send comments to [email protected].

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