Confessions of a Serial Interviewer by Steven Ra Ga

So when I was a teenager I wanted to join the army or the police force.

I used to bike up to the office where you sign up, sit in the parking lot then pedal away. I never found the courage to go through with it mainly because I think too much.

I instinctively knew that I would either question orders too much or go too deep and become a “robotic killing machine”.

In my family being a cop or part of the military is just a thing we do.

My father was in the reserves as a teen.

One of my Uncles went to Germany in the 70s as part of the Canadian forces.

Another Uncle flew secret declassified nuclear bombers in the 60s for Canada.

My grandfather was a radio operator in WW2, and flew in 52 missions before the made him go home. Fixing a radio with chewing gum, crazy.

His brother also fought in the airforce.

My cousin went to Afghanistan and out of 12 firefights shot is gun once.

My other cousin spent 17yrs in the military and now is a cop.

I was always fascinated with the mercenary for hire. That James Bond, John Wick, lone gun man with a soul. It’s still is my favourite kinda movies to watch. love it.

Wanted to be it.

But I come from a good family so that made it hard to let go.

I think too much.

I never wanted to be put in a position of having to arrest or kill somebody I knew.

So I never joined.

I am glad I didn’t.

Years later talking with my one cousin and hearing his stories of injuries and PTSD is just awful.

His most recent story I found fascinating was he had to chase a crazy guy, they caught him, locked him away in a crazy bin, the guy decides to escape bursting from the wall like the kool-aid man. They later caught up to him at a Subway.

It reminded me of my potential cousin-in law who was a security guard for the medical ward at the hospital looking after the mentally unhinged patients. He once told me he had to take a cab ride just to catch up with an escapee.

Tough gig, being the person that has to take on the worst of society all day every day.