Many years back, when I was a kid about 8 or maybe 9, there was a very, very tall flag pole in the school yard. One sunny and hot Saturday, I decided to climb to the top, just because it was there — not a good idea.

There was no rope or flag on the pole, so all the better, I thought.

I just had a T-shirt and short pants on, but that worked in my favor. The pole was hot and dry from the sunshine. I could not even reach half-way around the base of at the pole for about 12 feet up. My skin would stick to the pole pretty good, so up I went.

It took a long time and a lot of energy to reach the very top. The view all around was great until the wind started moving the pole. First the pole just went back and forth but then it got a large oval shape motion going. It looked like a 5 or 6 foot swing.

Well, a person can get motion sickness and dizzy trying to hold on way up there. Also, I began to think the top of the pole might bend or break off — then what?

There comes a time when you just want to hang on and not move.

When you don’t feel good, it takes even more energy to grip that pole on the way down.

Anyway, I learned a lesson from the school of hard knocks, and that is: think twice.

Well, that was the good old days.