After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 1
After the Story - Choices Like Rivers - Episode 1
This podcast discusses each chapter of Choices Like Rivers and each episode is posted directly after the book episode. This corresponds to Chapter 1.
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I don’t want to talk too much about why Molly Sue looks the way she does or about Sharon. The book will reveal that later on and I want to guard against any spoilers.
I always write my short first chapters in a way that pulls the reader in and to present more questions than answers. If a young 5 year old girl walking into a police station disheveled and alone doesn’t intrigue you, not much will.
So, let’s talk about this initial time period June 1978 and what was going on in 1978. This was a small town - somewhere - and life there would have been quite removed from the chaos and change of the large cities.
Police stations did not have computers yet. There was also no communication between law enforcement agencies and between cities and counties. In fact there was a quite closed mindset. “you do yours and we’ll do ours”.
In small towns morals were still upheld and expected. If behavior was considered immoral it was suppressed and hushed. That included sexual misconduct and drug and alcohol usage.
No one even wanted to deal with the or acknowledge that type behavior. It just wasn’t discussed openly for fear that the very discussion of it would taint a person.
Here are just a few of the top stories for 1978 to help you get a feel for the times…
Jimmy Carter was president of the US and he was a key figure in many of these world events.
Revolution in Iran: The Shah of Iran was overthrown, leading to the establishment of the Islamic Republic under Ruhollah Khomeini.
Jonestown Massacre: Over 900 members of the Peoples Temple cult died in a mass murder-suicide in Jonestown, Guyana.
First test-tube baby: Louise Brown, the world's first baby conceived through in vitro fertilization, was born in the UK.
First mobile phone system: Illinois Bell introduced the first cellular mobile phone system.
Resorts International opens: The first legal casino in the eastern U.S. opened in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
First recombinant human insulin: Scientists used recombinant DNA technology to produce human insulin.
Camp David Accords: President Jimmy Carter brokered a historic peace agreement between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in September.
GPS: The Global Positioning System (GPS) was developed.
Panama Canal Treaties: The US Senate approved treaties to transfer control of the Panama Canal to Panama by the year 2000.
The Blue Brothers makes its debut on Saturday Night Live.
Ben & Jerry’s opens its first ice cream shop.
First rainbow Pride flag premieres at San Francisco parade.
Aldo Moro A centrist leader of the Christian Democratic Party who was regarded by many as Italy’s most capable post-World War II politician was found dead in his car. He was riddled with bullets after having been kidnapped by the Red Brigade terrorist group.
The movie Grease produces 2 #1 musical hits - Your the One That I Want - and - Grease.
Mohammad Ali wins heavyweight championship.
United States will formally recognize the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) and sever relations with Taiwan.
USSR and Afghanistan sign “friendship treaty”.
The top 40 Billboard shows just how solid the Disco rage has become.
Number 1 was Shadow Dancing by Andy Gibb, and Number 2 was Night Fever by the Bee Gees.
In contrast the top Country & Western hits were
Johnny Paycheck's "Take This Job and Shove It,"
Kenny Rogers' "Love or Something Like It" and
"The Gambler," and the duet by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys".
Ronnie Milsap's "What a Difference You've Made in My Life,"
Crystal Gayle's "Ready for the Times to Get Better," and
Margo Smith's "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You".
Now that you have a good idea of what life was like in 1978 you are ready to embark on this journey with little Molly Sue.
But first… let’s learn more about Sharon, the lady Molly Sue meats in the police station.
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