I had heard from a neighbor about the "ReStores" ran by the
charitable organization Habitat for Humanity where they sell building materials
that have been donated in order to raise funds for their mission of building
homes for people in need.
I needed some supplies, including an exterior door and a
window, so I went with the family, first to one of these stores in the historic
district of Collinsville, about 10 miles away, and then to a larger store of
theirs in the Central West End district of St. Louis, just blocks from St.
Louis University.
I did find a good deal of what I needed, for a rather
reasonable price, and it was good to know that the money was going to a good organization
(The St. Louis store says that their chapter has built 325 homes in the city of
St. Louis), but there was something that happened that rather annoyed me when I
was there.
As usual, my mom and dad were talking to the cashier about rebuilding
the house, and how there won’t be a mortgage on it, since I paid cash for it
(though I owe
her money for some of the rebuilding of it), and most people find it
incredible that I saved up that much money. The cashier, though, said something
that really got to me: “you have a house, then next will be kids, right?”. My
mom agreed, but said one of her favorite phrases “…but there needs be a good, godly wife first”.
Never mind that awful “good godly wife” comment, but why
does everyone feel they have the right to make decisions for my life, but I don’t?
Why do people have such expectations for me to follow the normal American
formula for life? Get a solid job, get a house, get married (spouse must be
opposite gender of course!), and have 3 or 4 kids.
