I’m all opshopped-out. I’ve never been to the op shops as much as I had in the last three months but for as long as my mom is here and she wants to go, I will soldier on. I’d do anything to make her happy.

Even if it also means going to church on Sundays. (But between that and opshopping, Jesus will just have to forgive me if I say I much prefer the latter.)

Last Wednesday, I took my mom to Salvos in Frankston where, on the way she learned how it’s also nicknamed ‘Frankghanistan.’ Same way Cranbourne is also known as ‘Crimebourne.’ Both because of their reputation as high-crime areas and drug addiction rate.

I didn’t really buy anything much, save for a prairie dress, a skater skirt, and a few books to add to my growing pile of books to read. Purchases that say I’m ready to go out and stay in at the same time.

My mom, on the other hand, found several clothes and accessories that she liked. Eyeing a blue floral blouse worn over a bust mannequin hanging by the change room door, she called me over.

“Jan, do you think it’s okay to take this off so I can try it on?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Should be alright. Just let the staff know when you see them.”

She did. And my heart burst with pride for her courage to speak up. In English.

Up until that point, she would just rely on me or Jeff to do the talking for her. It was nice to see her slowly get comfortable in her own skin here in Australia. I felt like a proud momma.

With Frankston Beach just down the road, we decided to grab late lunch/early dinner at the nearby Sofia Frankston Restaurant where I found the food so-so but my mom loved the Sofia Red Spaghetti with its prawns, scallops, chicken, and mushroom in napoletana sauce which she reckons was made from actual tomatoes. It was alright. Nothing I’d go crazy about.

As the sun came out to dry up the morning rain, we took a walk at the pier. At 22 degrees, the weather was just perfect for it. Except, of course, that it got cold the further out we were on the boardwalk because that’s just how it is.

Also, it was windy as.

*Raven at 7 years old