He gets the mail through

Harwood, N.D. - At 71 years old, Neil Larson has a promising third career as a mailman.

While overland flooding from the nearby Sheyenne River has marooned some 35 homes in Lake Shure Estates, Larson is ensuring a piece of routine life continues.

Each day, he drives to the Harwood Post Office to pick up residents' mail. He then sorts the letters and newspapers into bins, which are shipped across the flooded road on aluminum boats.

It may be a simple gesture, but it helps maintain part of a typical routine during an atypical time.

"Oh, what the heck," said the retired real estate agent and former banker. "It gives me something to do."

The Harwood resident of 33 years said he doesn't mind the daily ritual.

"They truly appreciate getting their mail," he said. "Whatever they need, I do."

Outside his home on 52nd Avenue North, LaVonne Selberg eagerly picked up her mail on Saturday before boarding a boat to cross the flooded road to her home.

"Not quite as convenient," she said of picking up mail via boat. "But we still get it."

The roughly quarter-mile boat trip from what's cleverly coined "Larson's Landing" to "Veen's Marine" has become routine to these residents.

The close-knit community, though, refuses to let floodwaters dampen their spirits. A second annual neighborhood flood party is slated for next Saturday.

"We have a good time, too," said resident party planner Kim Veen. "We just do it because there's nothing else to do."

Larson said they'd like one of the four surrounding roads raised so they aren't stranded every year the Sheyenne River floods.

"It gets old after a while," he said. "(But) it is what it is."

Readers can reach Forum reporter Kelly Smith at (701) 241-5515