People have been preparing for this for years.  Even governmental agencies like the CDC and the Pentagon have been planning for this attack of zombie creatures.  Hypothetical of course, but like most things, we tend to react rather than be proactive and I hate to break it to you, but the zombies are already among us.  Seriously.  I’ve been watching them for years but because they look like us, and not like those scary un-dead monsters you see in movies, I never made the connection.  More and more of them spring up every day, and they seem to be getting younger.  Only these zombies aren’t necessarily out to get others, although others can be collateral damage, they’re actually killing themselves off in record numbers.  Despite that, however, their numbers continue to increase.

They’re easy to spot, once you realize what they are.  They walk or jog or bike, all with their necks bent forward, staring at something intently, not speaking, and seemingly ignoring everything else around them.  They even drive this way. Once simple tasks like reacting to the change in traffic lights or using a turn signal are completely forgotten by these zombie like creatures. What I thought were just rude people I had to look out for are in reality, zombies.

Zombie deaths are coming in the form of drownings, falls, fires and transport related deaths, the highest number coming from India, Russia, the U.S. and Pakistan, with more than 70 percent of zombies being men under 30.  Some are even dying through something as simple as taking pictures of themselves in dangerous places or walking across a busy street without looking.

The scariest part is that it’s not just individuals, it can be families of zombies.  Now that I know what to look for, I notice whole tables of zombie families at restaurants, groups of zombie families walking through stores, and unfortunately, whole families in some form of transport, all with that same neck bent forward, staring, not speaking and ignoring each other and everyone else.  The only thing that might be moving, strangely enough, are their thumbs at a rapid pace.

This transformation into a zombie like state is not only encouraged, but in some way expected, with zombies cultivating other zombies through the media and social media, work and school.  A person who doesn’t delve into the devices and games of those who have become zombies are considered “old school” and behind the times.  Those promoting this transformation don’t seem to want zombies to become aware of their real surroundings, and the more they behave this way, the further away they get from reality, allowing others to make decisions for them and even think for them.

I’m pretty sure someone who has experienced reality could break the zombie hold if they wanted to eventually, but I am concerned about the young zombies.  Someone has to be brave enough to say that little people should never have the chance to become zombies. Especially since we’re finding out that some younger zombies are becoming violent if someone tries to reverse what turned them into zombies in the first place.  Apparently being a zombie is not only dangerous, it’s addictive. Like so many things in this world, it’s sometimes best to never try certain things, at least until you’re an adult and can make decisions for yourself.  Little zombies make life easier for the adult zombies, so they don’t have to deal with what real children do and say as they grow and mature.  Never mind that we can be stunting the growth process when we allow children to play with things, even unintentionally, that turn them into zombies.  Remember the collateral damage I spoke of earlier.

So, what do we do about this?  What if nobody believes that the zombies are already here and thinks this is funny?  Am I going to have to hide in a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere to get away from them? What if people LIKE being zombies?  Is it too late or can we make the change back to people who build relationships and communicate with other people face to face?  Can we be people who care enough about others that we do what’s right, even when it’s hard?  If not, don’t look now – you may be a zombie yourself.