The current ‘apocalypse’

I have been trying to keep up with the news as much as possible during the current pandemic and its related closures, restrictions, etc. Recently, I saw an article (connected no-doubt to a YouTube video somewhere) with the headline … “How to Survive The Current Apocalypse” or something like that. That got me to thinking. How many people actually understand the word apocalypse?
The online dictionary defines apocalypse as a noun with the following meanings: 1. the complete final destruction of the world, as described in the biblical book of Revelation; 2. an event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale.
I’m not sure we are experiencing the complete final destruction of the world, at least not yet anyway. So that leaves the second meaning regarding an event involving destruction on an awesome scale. That, we might just be seeing — at least for some folks.
With food processing plants closing around the country, our nation’s cattle ranchers, pork producers, poultry raisers, and egg producers are all facing what could well be described as an apocalyptic event.
The industry is being told it is time to “depopulate” their holdings (read destroy, euthanize, or otherwise waste their cattle, hogs, chickens and eggs) complete with instruction on how to accomplish the task. We’re talking hundreds of thousands of cattle, millions of chickens and eggs, and no telling how many hogs. All, supposedly, because of a bottle necked delivery system. Cattle, for instance, can’t be shipped to market because there aren’t any large packing plants still operating (or very few, as of this writing).
Dairy farmers and distributors are dumping vast quantities of milk and milk-related products onto the ground for similar reasons. Add to these the many large farms that supply produce to our tables, and we have a major problem on our hands.
Yep, those who supply the food we eat are hurting. Very soon, if things don;t change and change quickly, these problems just might come to all of us by way of food shortages, which means empty cupboards and refrigerators.
Closer to home for some town and city dwellers, we find small mom and pop type shops, local salons, local restaurants, and other businesses suffering from mandated closures across the nation. Some are saying they have lost enough in just the last month to not be able to open again — ever.
For many people, running low on toilet paper or not being able to get that much-needed haircut or manicure is somewhat apocalyptic. Some find not being able to attend concerts or other large gatherings somewhat apocalyptic. Still others think not being able to meet in a building with others of like faith every Sunday the most apocalyptic restriction of all. And while I feel for those high school students who have yet to experience their last senior prom, or those in high school and college who have nor “walked” in their senior graduation, I believe many will get the opportunity soon — or at least I hope so.
I’ll be the first to say that each and every one of the things I’ve listed (aside from the losses being suffered by the meat and food producers) are terribly inconvenient. But for most, that’s all it is — a major inconvenience.
At least for now.