Try to NOT be a Zombie

What does the “Zombie Apocalypse” and today’s youth have in common? My survival. Let me explain.

When I was young we didn’t have cell phones, computers in our homes – much less laptops – or the internet. The idea of sitting and reading a book on a personal device like a Kindle or Nook was pure science fiction. We read actual books, rode our bicycles, played sand lot rules football and generally made our fun where we could find it. On weekends we went fishing or hunting with our fathers and learned to catch/kill, clean and cook our food. We learned how to make things using tools and wood from our dads and grand fathers, which was handy for building forts and tree houses. We learned to fix things as they broke if we could.

Fast forward to 2013…

Today our children, and young adults, are walking around with their heads buried in their electronic devices. Their world is largely disposable. If it breaks, throw it out and buy a new one. They live on their devices playing online games. Games like “Cops and Robbers” have been replaced with Halo, Grand Theft Auto, or other such computer games. Coffee has been replaced with cappuccino and latte and, for an ever growing number of them, fish is something you buy at the fish market or get at Red Lobster. Going to the lake is now about skiing, not fishing, and hunting is something hillbillies and rednecks do. After all, for many of our youth, guns are evil…..at least that is what they are hearing on the news. And tools for our 20 some things – and some 30 some things – consist of a lawn mower, crescent wrench, one or two screw drivers, and a hammer. 

The problem this creates, for them, is the inability to be self sufficient. If it can’t be found online or purchased in a store they are lost. How can they be expected to change the water pump on their own car when many of them don’t even know how to change a tire? What would happen if, like in a recent TV show, the power simultaneously went out all over the world? Well, I know how to fish, I can hunt and while I don’t have the greenest thumb I can grow food. And, as I am not married to my smart phone – I don’t even have a smart phone – and I know how to read and use tools, I’m pretty sure I can keep my home dry on the inside. But what of the modern youth? Well, I guess they will have a problem.

If a zombie apocalypse ever does happen I will seek out others like myself (and I know several) with whom I can commune. We will become a community among ourselves; able to take care of our needs. And the modern youth will seek us out hoping we will take them in. The problem they will have is convincing us we should accept them. Questions will be raised such as, “What can you contribute?”. Oh, you can fix computers? That’s wonderful, but you understand there is no power and therefore none of them are working? Do you know how to clean fish? Do you know how to trim deer? Can you cook? Can you put a new roof on a house? Can you build a fire without a gas hook up? Well if nothing else I can teach you to shoot and you can help guard the perimeter. That is of course if you are willing to learn how to safely handle and use a gun. 

What does that have to do with my survival? Well, looking at the zombie issue, they will go where the food is. That means densely populated areas, like cities. I can assure you I will NOT be in the city. So if you are a member of the modern youth you will have to get out of the city to get to me. And if you have no survival skills of your own…… It saddens me to think that so many things we learned growing up in my generation are not being learned today. But, at the same time, the fact that a large number of these folks will end up being zombie food just gives me more time to prepare and make ready for the time they do find me and my group. 

My thinking here is quite simple. If you are one of the “modern youth”, put down the iPad and pick up a book. Step away from the computer and go fishing. If you don’t know how, find someone to teach you. The next time you need a faucet replaced don’t call a plumber; go to your local home improvement store and buy one and replace it yourself. If you don’t know how, find someone to teach you. Or pick up a DIY book on home repair. Learn to do for yourself as much as you can and don’t be afraid of getting your hands dirty. Learn to change a flat tire and your own oil. And maybe, just maybe, if we can get enough people thinking again and learning how to do things for themselves again we might be able to avoid a zombie apocalypse. With more people knowing how to survive there would be fewer zombies to overcome. 

Or maybe you like the thought of becoming a zombie? That is all; carry on.