Just Another Car on the Road: The Zombies
In Atlanta—especially downtown—people are always on the move. Students, business professionals, travelers—movers and shakers from every walk of life weave through the city. Today, I found myself in the heart of it all, creeping through the maze of traffic and lights, taking in the sheer diversity around me.
There was Granny on a walker, skateboarders, scooter riders, backpacked travelers, and suited men and women solving the world’s problems—or at least looking like they were. Others, equally polished, seemed poised to entertain. Some looked displaced yet entirely in place. Tall, short, fat, skinny, red, yellow, Black, and white—they were all there on site, moving in sync with the pulse of the city.
But one thing stood out.
Despite being surrounded by people, nearly everyone was glued to a screen. Each group was together, yet disconnected—laughing, talking, gesturing, but always fixated on the phones in their hands. Many walked with headphones on or earbuds plugged in. Even the drivers around me were hypnotized by the glow of their screens.
It was a zombified Stepford Wives type vibe.
Passing cars didn’t break their trance. Screeching tires didn’t faze them. Near misses—sometimes even full-on collisions with street signs or other people—barely caused a flicker of awareness before they dove right back in.
I was dumbfounded.
But isn’t that just like life?
Nah—not at all.
This is Ralph, and I’m just another car on the road.