Stand Your Ground, HOA & Neighborhood Watch

Rally for Trayvon Martin in Nashville...

"True life is lived when tiny changes occur."

-- Leo Tolstoy

Our home & garden, Wellington Court & Gardens we designed in 2008

The Evergreen garden to the West that divides our neighbors property


With the recent tragedy of Trayvon Martin in a Florida neighborhood I thought it was fitting to post about HOA's and people that "watch" the neighborhood. My concern is for our family and the safety of our property due to over 19 threats/harassment from someone in our neighborhood.

As a journalist I naturally journal and write about what is going on in my world. We moved to what we thought was going to be our Heaven on Earth in 2008. I started a newsletter and celebrated each neighbor and business owner that was in the area. Within 6 months I was threatened, bullied and sent letters from our HOA. I recently received a letter dated March 13th so that leads me to believe that I will never have a "safe place to land" or a sacred space to retreat. This evening a "neighbor" was on our property and actually "mowed our grass" in the front and side garden. I had to actually stand almost in front of his tractor mower to get him to stop! I told him to stop and let him know we have cut our grass every 2 weeks since we moved in. He said " I knew you were going to stop me...we just want it to look like a neighborhood and I mow everyone's grass here but yours. You are the only one who doesn't cut their grass 3 1/2 inches." Huh? After much dialogue he left our property and my husband was on the phone totally miffed! We are civil people and act within the law. Sadly it appears that we are the ones being "watched" and the neighborhood serial reporter is constantly complaining and throwing around accusations of which we have no opportunity to defend. Many HOA's across the country have allowed "bullies" to abuse law abiding homeowners and it needs to stop. We have a right to be comfortable and safe in our home & gardens without threats or controlling neighbors. I always give the benefit of the doubt and was hoping it would stop but it appears I must involve the Metro Police Department.


It is my hope that all will be resolved peacefully and the serial reporter gets the help they need.

The "Stand Your Ground Law" states:
More than half of the states in the United States have adopted the Castle doctrine, stating that a person has no duty to retreat when their home is attacked. Some states go a step further, removing the duty of retreat from any location. "Stand Your Ground", "Line In The Sand" or "No Duty To Retreat" laws thus state that a person has no duty or other requirement to abandon a place in which he has a right to be, or to give up ground to an assailant. Under such laws, there is no duty to retreat from anywhere the defender may legally be.

Be with me in highest good thoughts for Trayvon Martin's family, our family and people across the country who are subjected to such treatment.