If youre 93 and live alone, what do you do on Christmas Day?
For Neil Hartwig, whose wife, Hilda, died 22 years ago and his son, Neil Jr., lives in Mississippi, the answer is easy.
He was up early Christmas morning, and along about 11 a.m. moseyed into the Humboldt Senior Center.
He doesnt have meals delivered to his home or go to the senior center regularly, but he knew on Christmas Day a feast awaited, compliments of the Scovill family John and Cindy and daughters Michelle and Sherryl. The meal has been an annual event since 2003.
Sometimes those partaking help with food expenses, but the Scovills dont encourage donations. Its our gift to the community, John said.
Neil was early and snagged a seat at a round table large enough for seven or eight. Seats filled quickly, all with friends of perhaps the oldest person in the building. Several of the 75 or 80 who came to eat were of circumstances similar to Neils, living alone and with no relatives visiting. But, the Scovills have no guidelines, anyone is welcome.
In addition to all those who came for Tuesdays feast, 60 food baskets, sponsored by the Community Pantry and Humboldt Lions, were delivered last week to the homes of shut-ins and families whose finances couldnt have provided much of a holiday meal.
NEIL, BY ANY measure, has lived a full life.
Born west of town, he joined the Army in 1948 and had a 27-year career that included duty in Korea, Germany and Vietnam. After retiring, he returned to Humboldt and worked another 14 years at NuWa Industries in Chanute. He also raised cattle, a favorite activity, until a couple of years ago when his legs started giving him fits.
Along the way he was a terrific horseshoe pitcher, competing in world tournaments over 11 years.
I never dreamed Id live to be 80, much less 93, although my folks were 90 and 91 when they died and I had a sister live to 95, Neil said. I guess I have some longevity.
Im still able to take care of myself, a point of pride. I tell myself, Dont do nothing his is a face-the-world attitude each day. I tell other people to go and do something, stay active as long as you can.
As for the holiday, Christmas for me is out of the Bible, he declared. It bugs me when people go out and spend a lot of money and let that seep into the meaning of Christmas.
Neil has strong opinions about politics most of which he wisely keeps to himself except with close friends and he yearns for the days when neighbors spent more time being neighborly.
I have a cell phone, in case I get somewhere and have a flat tire, but I dont have a computer and dont care about what I hear is on the internet.
Wed all be better off, especially kids, to get outside, away from television and computers, he said, and spent more time visiting with friends and neighbors, and staying busy.
He practices what he preaches. At 7 a.m. each day Neil is at the H&H Grill for breakfast, and hes back again a couple of hours later for coffee and small talk.
