IT’S ALL ABOUT... A ‘silver spoon’ life

Did you ever hear the expression “he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth”? Well, not knowing the meaning and questioning an x-boss, he explained using an example of one of our factory owners, who happened to be the 7th generation in a successful family manufacturing business. He was an individual that was born into a privileged family with inherited wealth. Thus, the expression, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth! This young man didn’t have to work very diligently, mostly wined and dined his dealers and was on a continual all expenses paid life. So, in simple terms….an easy rich life with no money worries! Additionally, we all noticed there seemed to be an heir about this individual, maybe he perceived he was better than most everyone else. Nonetheless, he was personable and a fairly likable guy most of the time.

The next encounter of a “silver spoon” individual came about a decade and a half ago. Working my tail off, traveling 90+% of the time, and absolutely running out of steam, something had to give! It seemed like the appropriate time to find a small lake house, a beautiful peaceful lake view and nice cozy front porch. A relaxing escape for weekends. My best friend made it a mission to help locate the perfect place. We would take off whenever possible, ride for miles, windows down, sing country western songs and look for the magical lake property.

After searching the majority of a year, we saw a beautiful lake in the distance, but couldn’t get to it because it was a gated community. We sat for a while thinking someone would come in or out and we could just follow them. But to no avail. Several weekends later we made the same trek and the gate was still closed. The mission became an obsession and we took off down a country road to try to find a back entrance. And, we did. Driving around the little private lake road it appeared it was a part of the world that not many people inhabited as the houses were in poor repair with a complete lack of cars or people for that matter!

On the other side of the lake, we encountered one man working and stopped to ask questions. He told us the place was private and the houses were generally handed down generation to generation. It was impossible to “get-in” if you weren’t part of THE FAMILY. However, he knew one man, not part of the original family, that might be interested in selling and pointed us in the direction to the other side of the lake. We drove around and parked in front of the house; a literal “trash heap”. The grass was waist high and there were toilets and bathtubs all over the yard with plants (and undoubtedly snakes) growing out of everything among the weeds!

My sentiment out loud was, “are you kidding…this is a dump!” Fortunately, my friend saw a diamond in the rough and began to describe what a cute little “palace” it could be! Bottom line, I contacted the owner and ended up buying the place for a relatively inexpensive price. Amazing how good a property begins to look when a dumpster is filled with pots, tubs, showers and toilets and hauled off; when the waist high weeds are mowed and a little coat of paint is applied. Other owners started to take notice and several of them joined in to fix up their places as well, commenting my cozy little (now cute) house had never looked so good.

The place became a welcomed weekend get-away…a little slice of heaven that was enjoyed for several years. Neighbors on one side were delightful and became great friends. There was a house on the other side, however, nobody was ever there. It was always nice and quiet.

We heard lots of stories about the young adult man, supposedly a pilot, that belonged to the house and what a trouble maker he was. Apparently, he was the grandson of one of the original founders of the property and club and acted as though he was from a wealthy and privileged family!

Prior to our first meeting, my friend, a General Contractor specializing in site preparation, took complete measurements of the property and structures as it was described in my closing agreement. Once completed, he sent it to an engineer and had it officially drawn up to scale for my records. Thankfully he did as it was relied upon for years and years, court to court!

After several years of peacefulness, we saw the neighbor in the yard and introduced ourselves. As said before, there seems to be an heir that goes with this type of person. It was written all over his persona that he thought he was a special citizen! We knew he wasn’t going to be a great neighbor from the get-go!

During our absence from the lake’s peacefulness, I received a message from the good neighbor alerting me that the “silver spoon” neighbor had poured a concrete pad-driveway on my property. WHAT?? Sure enough, the following weekend trip to the lake house… upon inspection, he had absolutely poured a concrete driveway on my property. A discussion with him followed and he alleged that he had access to any and all property anywhere around the lake. “I’m sorry, but you are on my property”. And his answer was, “This is MY property and I’m not changing anything”. Well, this is going nowhere!

The “Club” was under a Board of Directors. They had asked me to join several years prior as a “Director”, which I had done, and had served for almost 2 years. The duty of a Board is to develop policy for the overall business, in this case, the property, and to rule or govern in the best interest of the members of the corporation, in this case, land owners. In my lifetime I had been on 7 different Boards of Corporations and always took my position sincerely and honestly as it was to protect the people whom I represented. Again, in this case it was my neighbors, the land owners. The Board was participating in activities that in my opinion were not in the best interest of the corporation, and many times I opposed an idea or was the “no” vote. Consequently, not being the favorite…or in THE FAMILY…my opinions were not always regarded in a positive way.

However, the Board was contacted with a letter and informed what was happening with dates, times and names! During our next Board of Directors meeting the matter was brought up and tabled as they didn’t know what to do. Apparently, the majority of the Board members were related to the “spoon” neighbor…and they thought they were all “spoon” worthy as well!!!

Several weekends later upon inspection, the “spoon” had erected a carport on the concrete pad ON MY PROPERTY! Now we really do have a problem as he continued to march on, unobstructed, spilling over into my property. The Board was again notified via letter and followed up again with a letter from my attorney, asking them to address the situation and get it resolved so the matter could be dismissed. The Board did nothing. The ”spoon” was such a close relative!

The story continues with the “spoon” starting to use my private driveway; and then planting thorny shrubs on what he decided was his property line, taking down my fence and installing a fence infringing on my property….and the Board continued to look away!

My attorney wrote several letters and finally gave the ultimatum, straighten out this matter or expect a law suit to be filed. WE HAD THE CASE and were ready to go to court if necessary.

The Board never believed a law suit would be filed and continued to do nothing. Well, guess what? We filed. They went through 3 different attorneys that continued to tell them to settle as they didn’t have a case!

I will stop at this point as a book of the embellished story is in the process of being written. Hopefully it will be published within the next year disclosing the end of the nightmare with the multiple “silver spoon” families and relatives! Take a guess. Did I have to go to court? Did I win the case? Stay tuned for the ending of the “silver spoon” life mystery.