Jan. 7, 2022

Learning from experiences like the ones Ethan and I went through have helped get me get this far. I just might need more than those experiences now. The further I travel the worse this area looks. There might be nothing much left. Looks like a bomb went off. These people definitely fought. I wonder why there were so many zombies. Sometimes some areas just seemed to have a lot of them, and others didn’t seem to have too many. I have started to see military vehicles. Maybe that has something to do with it. Still can’t believe the military couldn’t stop some stupid zombies. I mean, it’s not like the zombies worked together. Had an attack strategy. No weapons. We won several wars. Defeated enemies all over the world. Then we were defeated by zombs. I guess that doesn’t say much for the enemies we beat. And we spent so much money on the military and we couldn’t stop zombies. What a waste! 

Jan. 5, 2022

All this mess reminds me of the chaos when Ethan and I left the Bradley house. After the car crash, we bounced around the streets looking for safety. Every time we thought we found a place to rest and hide, crazy shit started happening. It was so confusing. Not knowing what was happening. How people were changing. It seemed like it started so fast. All of the sudden. I thought people were going nuts, but Ethan was sure it was zombies. He liked horror movies more than I did. He kept saying this was the zombie  zombie apocalypse. I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. This wasn’t a movie. There were times I thought he was going nuts too. But there was little time for debate. People would gather. Wait. Then someone would turn. Then it was like a gun went off to start a marathon. People would scatter. Both of us took turns almost getting hit by cars. Shot by gunfire. Trampled by the crowds. I remember coming up on a police station. About 2 dozen policemen were out front ushering people inside. It was too many people rushing into a tight spot so Ethan and I figured it was better not to follow. While they ran to the police station, we found another place to hide. We went into a nearby building and waited to see what was going to happen. Ethan rested, but I had to see what was happening. The police were trying to do the right thing. They didn’t know any better. At that time, not many people knew any better. People ran inside. The police protected the streets. Then they needed protection when the people came flying out of there. Policemen got run over. I could swear one or two of them actually started shooting innocent people. Innocent from what I could tell. Their plan failed and the cops were now on their own. Once the people escaped, Ethan and I knew it was time to move on because they would soon be coming into the surrounding buildings. Into the streets. Fighting through people. It was hard to stop anywhere for long. Soon cars couldn’t get through the mess, and everyone was on foot. Forget bicycles. People would just knock you down, take it, and then get knocked down only to have someone else take it. Motorcycles weren’t a bad idea, but you couldn’t stop. People got desperate real fast, and most didn’t know what was going on. So much for staying in your homes. Ethan and I made it out of the city and more into the surrounding neighborhoods. How we did it, I don’t know! It was a little calmer there because these people actually stayed in their homes. Most people wouldn’t even think about opening their door. We walked down the streets along with others that had nowhere to go. More close calls. While we stayed in the middle of the street, some got too close to the wrong homes. Step into the wrong yard, and get your head blown off. Would always scare me to death when that gunfire would go off all the sudden. People just wanted help, but others wanted no part of what was going on. Then there were the few that wanted to help. Invite you right into their home. That was one thing we disagreed on. I wasn’t to keen on going into these homes, but Ethan always wanted to stop and rest. Lazy I tell you. Again, I don’t know how we made it that far. Ethan took advantage of the homes, and rested. He was good at talking the people into giving us food, and drinks, even if they barely had any. Convinced them this was temporary, and the government would restore order soon enough. When he was done resting, we thanked them, and moved on. Mostly to make me happy. Every home we stopped in, I just had flashbacks of the Bradley house. I told Ethan that would happen again, and I was right. I think it was the third house we stopped at. Everyone was ready for bed when there was a bang in the backyard. We were laying down in the living room. Ethan, and I sat up, and I still remember giving him that look. I knew it. The lady of the house turned on the light and there was someone standing by the fence. The woman almost had a heart attack. Her husband looked closer, and said it was the neighbor’s son. He opened the door and called for him. Nothing happened. Ethan, and I already were up, and making sure we had a clear path to the door. I yelled for him to close the door. Opps, that boy spun around, and made a dash for the door. The husband froze, but at the last second closed the sliding glass door. Yea, that didn’t matter. He went right through it, and we were gone. I could here the woman calling for help, but that wasn’t us. We wasted no time in running away. Far away. I told Ethan, no more homes. We would have to come up with a better plan than that. 

Jan. 4, 2022

So it looks like that sign was right. The closer I get, the more signs of a battle with zombies took place. Dried up blood everywhere. Better than fresh blood. Bodies. Parts of them. Bullet shells. Finally found some cars. Too bad they are useless. Nasty crashes into trees. Into each other. People died in them. One looked like it was used as a battering ram. Blood all over the front. Skin. Pieces of bone. All stuck in the front grill. In the rims. Tires flat. Part of a body under one of the tires. Pinned down for who knows how long. Whatever battle took place happened a while ago. It is clear people were running from them, and the zombies were giving chase. Maybe this means I will walk into an empty town. That would be ideal. 

Jan. 1, 2022

Wow I just wrote 2022. Is it really 2022? Is there anyone still counting the days? Does anyone really know what day it is? When this is all over, who will decide what day, and year it is? Maybe there is a safe place out there somewhere keeping track of this kind of thing. Did it take  no I guess it didn’t. I was checking to see when I got to Arkansas. It felt like it took a year to get through it, but it didn’t. Maybe. Wish I hadn’t done that. I just saw the names of my fallen friends. God, I miss those kids. Such a sign of hope that was just ripped away. I hope their fortunes changed, and made it wherever they decided to go. They didn’t 

Dec. 29, 2021

After walking and walking finally signs of civilization. Civilization probably not, but a city yes. As usual, it isn’t that easy though. I found a sign that says there is a city only a few miles ahead. I also found another sign that read, “Beware of Zomb.” They didn’t live long enough to finish the sign. Actually there are some bones not too far up the road. Maybe that’s them. They should have been running. Kind of makes me think I should do more paying attention and less writing sometimes. Oh well, if I got to go, why not go out with you journal.

They say history often repeats itself so I hope that isn’t the case now. A sign tells me the river is close. I get there, and there are zombies waiting for me. Now I see a sign that there is a city close by. Are there zombies waiting for me? This time there is a warning sign, and the lessons history might be trying to teach me. I took on that river to get here. There really is no stopping now. Sorry history. I haven’t learned. 

Dec. 22, 2021

Land lover for sure. I had dreams that I was on that boat, and it never stopped. Just kept going. Fighting the waves. Bouncing me all around. I think I woke up seasick. After effects of the ride, maybe. On top of that, the zombies were standing along the shore laughing at me. Mom included. Guess they weren’t happy about me laughing when they jumped into the water and drowned trying to get to me. Now to figure out where I have landed. Hopefully near a city. A change of scenery. 

Dec. 20, 2021

Against better judgment, I pushed the boat away from shore and into the water. One of those impulse things after sitting and debating it. Almost like I was trying to prove to myself that I could do this. And I did it. Some how. Some way. Honestly, scared shitless. I couldn’t control the boat. It took seconds before the boat and river went to battle with me along for the ride. Spinning around, bouncing off waves. I missed half of it with my eyes closed, and head down. Holding on for dear life. Worse than any roller coaster I have ever been on. It finally stopped when the river hit a calm spot. With the boat in coasting mode, I kind of willed the boat over to the other side. Jumped off that thing like it was on fire. Pushed it back in the water and said “Good Riddance!” 

Dec. 15, 2021

Boat it is. Found a small one washed onshore. I think I can get it loose, and back into the water. Checked it out and doesn’t appear to have holes. I will probably find out pretty quickly. Not counting on the motor working. No paddles so I’m not sure how I’m going to control this thing. I am going to look for some sticks that might serve as a paddle. Sort of. I don’t know. Writing this has me rethinking this idea. Must thi