By Trent Rosser

What do the movie Resident Evil and the television show The Walking Dead have in common with Amarillo? Absolutely nothing. In the movies, zombies are flesh eating creatures that used to be human. Most have to be killed by shooting or stabbing them in the head. In most movies, it was caused by a virus. The virus started out disguised as a flu. The symptoms become worse until the person died, then they became zombies. A lot of times, it is shown that if you are bitten by a zombie, then you die and become one as well. Again, it starts with a little cough, sneeze, just like a flu. Sounds familiar?

With the coronavirus creating a turmoil across the country, we could be right on the verge of a zombie apocalypse! My wife and I went to get groceries the other day and it was a madhouse. As we turned down the toilet paper aisle, everything was gone. We were able to snag a little package of hamburger meat and went to get canned goods. I was shocked to see the shelves completely empty! Not even a small can of tomato sauce! So we said forget it and we headed to Walmart instead. That was a mistake! There were twice as many people and Walmart was out of everything! No meat whatsoever. One lady wrapped her arm across the remaining canned goods and pulled every last one into her cart! We ended up with hot dogs for supper that night. The next day we were able to go to a third grocery store and were able to get what we needed to last a couple of weeks. Then I saw the videos flooding across social media of fst fights over toilet paper, cleaning wipes, baby wipes and baby formula. Most stores have now designated a time for the elderly to shop. Some convenience stores no longer allow refills on sodas or coffee. Outdoor and indoor events have been canceled. All due to the coronavirus.

Yesterday, the Governor of Texas issued lockdown orders, meaning restaurants have closed their dine in and can only operate through carry out, delivery, or drive thru. No gatherings of 10 or more people, and schools are now closed for 2 weeks. Granted, the kids have been off for spring break, but now they will be staying home a little longer. The country is slowly starting out like The Walking Dead. It starts with the public panicking. Then the military steps in. Then they are overrun by the zombies. The last step is the free for all and survival of the human race. Well, the panicking has already happened. I just don't understand the toilet paper. Let me guess, 1 person sneezes and 20 people poop their pants!

So, are we really on the verge of a zombie apocalypse? The answer is no. The zombies were already here. It was us. We were the ones that used to be human. Not any longer. We are constantly looking at our phones, working on our computers, and paying more attention to social media than our own families and surroundings. The coronavirus could actually be a good thing. No, not because people are sick and dying, but because we now have to stay home, with family. We get to learn more about our own families again. We get to spend more time with the ones we love. We get to fall in love again.

One of the things I would like to ask everyone, not only keep the healthcare workers and first responders in your prayers, but think about the ones that don't get enough recognition. The workers in the transportation industry. They too are essential to get the foods on the shelves. With truck drivers working overtime to meet demand, they are having a tough time as well. Since the dine in restaurants are closed, and they can not take the trucks through the drive thru, drivers are having a rough time getting food also. A lot of places will not serve someone if the walk to a drive thru so the drivers are now limited as well. Hopefully if you see a driver trying to get food to keep on the road, please help them out. After all, if there is no food whatsoever then the panicking will definitely reach an unprecedented level.

In the meantime, I will keep going to work to keep the trucks rolling. I will keep disappointing my wife by telling her that there are still no zombies.