World traveling changed in 1979. Up until that most pivotal of years, anyone that wanted to roam the world carefree could. One was able to cross overland pretty much wherever the wind blew. It is such a wonderful feeling to “tramp about” within anywhere in the world. Iran? Iraq? Yes. Afghanistan? Yes. But not anymore. Within that region’s current generation, and maybe the next, it is most likely you may never be able to set foot and have a cup of tea in any of these countries as a world traveler.
Why does it even matter that you can’t go there anymore? Because the world has become a precarious place, and is a testimony to the times that traveling about freely cannot take place. For back then, the entire world was mostly care free….until 1979. Culturally in our world back then, Michael Jackson had emerged as a superstar. The fire at the nuclear plant Three Mile Island accident happened in Pennsylvania, and Lord Mountbatten of England was assassinated which sparked “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.
What also happened in 1979? Iran became the extremist Republic that it is and became unfriendly to the west. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan which immediately shut off the overland trial from Europe to Asia. It also set the stage for what is happening there today.
What is the point to this look back into thirty years ago? To just know and have a better understanding of what occurred back then, and put in perspective to what is taking place today. The world was a simpler time back then. It was the transition to the remnants of the disco and peace and love era, and about to enter a different era, an oil shock era, and inflationary era, a menacing era. Ah me.
Our hero Danny in OVERLAND was compelled to go after Heather and their chase across two continents ensued in that part of the world….in 1979. Timing is everything in life, either good or bad. In Danny’s case, it was both. Being in the wrong place in the wrong time usually has lasting consequences or scars or memories that become a milestone marker of your life. And so it did happen to Danny and Heather as well. For Danny, you could call it the right place in the right time, too.
For, some good came out of it. However, to continue on here would be such a spoiler to the story of OVERLAND. Just know that in the yin/yang balance of life, that when existence becomes bleakest, light follows. Danny’s light occurred when he least expected it, and it changed his life forever.
I would like to hear if anyone so chooses, to step forward, and post the milestone markers of their life…for better, or for worst…or both!
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