I am still having Monday and Wednesday calls with my friend/student in Kyiv. This was coordinated through ENGin who matches Ukrainians wanting to learn English with native English speakers. Technically I am not a native English speaker but having lived most of my life in Canada and US, I can pass for a native speaker.
Anyway, since we missed the call on Monday, I was showing him my cast and x-rays, and some photos from my retirement graduation. Then he told me about a new government decree in Ukraine regarding the war. As of Saturday, May 18th, every male person has to go to the military recruitment center to get a “ticket” or number. If your number is within a certain range, then you need to go to the military training center and then war. There are now checkpoints between cities and towns, and random checks in Kyiv. My friend does not want to go to war, mainly because he cannot imagine himself killing someone else.
At this point, I was speechless. My problems seem minor in comparison to conscription and being sent off to a deadly war of attrition. It is such a terrible waste of life, and Ukraine will be fucked up for decades regardless of the outcome. Putin also has destroyed Russia since most countries, except other shitty dictatorships like China, Iran, and North Korea, will not do business with them. Just one single megalomanic and ruin the lives of millions.
Life with chronic diseases 