Yom Kippur begins Wednesday, Oct. 1, and that observance reminds me of a time long ago. Tim and I were in Tel Aviv, having spent a couple of weeks in Israel and having visited all the sites. We had planned to move on soon to Cyprus, a short hop from here.

We were told that the next day was the start of Yom Kippur, a solemn occasion, and we might not find an open restaurant or evening entertainment. So we brought in some food and walked over to a nearby movie theatre to see The Day of the Jackal. We were thoroughly frisked when we entered the almost empty theatre, but that was a familiar affront everywhere in that part of the world.

After the movie we noticed that the streets were dark and empty, very strange in a big city, but again, we assumed it was because of the solemnity of the occasion.

When we woke the next morning I went down to the front desk to ask about taking the ferry to Cyprus. The desk clerk told me the ferries weren’t running. Why not, I asked. “Because of the war,” he said.

“What war?” I asked.

The man slapped his palm to his forehead and said, “Oy!” The day before, Egypt and Syria launched a joint attack, beginning the Yom Kippur war. Invading Egyptian forces had crossed the Suez Canal and moved into the Sinai Peninsula. Syrian troops had entered the Golan Heights. We stepped outside to have a look. Downtown streets were filled with people, moving about, agitated, terrified, watching atrocious events as the invasion unfolded live on television sets which had been wheeled out onto the sidewalks. News announcers shrieked in Hebrew.

Back in our room, we re-plotted our day. Tim headed out to donate blood at a nearby Red Cross clinic. I stayed and banged out an article which I then delivered to the wire service news agency a few blocks away. I sent it off to my former employer, The Vancouver Sun, knowing they would be pleased to have an unexpected correspondent on the scene.

From there Tim and I headed to the airport, where we signed up for an unscheduled flight to Athens. We were told to return to the El Al terminal at midnight to wait. After several hours of waiting, and being thoroughly frisked again, we finally boarded the plane. A stewardess came by, handing out English-language prayer pamphlets. They began, “Dear Lord, save us from enemy ambush.” Just what we needed. Our flight was uneventful. The year was 1973. This is the nutshell version.

Back in real time: Prudy Burt reminds us that the library presentation of the willow tree removal plan at the Mill Pond is available at the news update section of the town’s website.

Happy birthday Friday, Sept. 16, to Roan Bettencourt. Birthday wishes go to Lynn Christoffers and Megan Mendenhall on Monday, Sept.  29, and to the talented artist Traeger DiPietro on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Happy birthday to Missy Manter, Wednesday, Oct. 1. Congratulations and happy wedding anniversary to Dan and Jane Rossi on Sunday, Sept. 28.