def find_index(item: str, _list: list, else_return=9999):
    """
    Finds the index of an item and returns a numeric NA is item is not in list. This allows for instance for finding the
    min (or max) of several strings in a list, even if some of the strings are not in the list. The else_return
    parameter is meant to be set to a value high enough (or low enough) that the values that are not in the list are
    never picked.
    :param item: Item for which the index is to be found.
    :param _list: List in which to look up the item.
    :param else_return: Alternative value to return if item not in list.
    :return: Index (or placeholder value).

    """
    if item in _list:
        return _list.index(item)
    else:
        return else_return
