PV Blog Four – Time Passes…

TIME PASSES – DON’T WAIT FOR PERFECTION

RIP Lynn Carrier Lavezzi — January 10, 2026

After passing quickly after a long illness, Lynn, my sister-in-law, wife of brother Bill, was laid to her rest in frigid Ohio this past Tuesday (1/20), attended by a great outpouring of family, friends, and many varied groups of people wanting to honor her and Bill in the community.

We were in Mexico, and had just enough time to book a plane and get there the day before the ceremonies began. Fortunately,, there are several flights out of Puerto Vallarta, although we couldn’t find one direct to CLE. As we changed planes in Minneapolis – several of the passengers still in their shorts – the icy air cut us shivering denizens down to quaking, whining shadows of our vacationing selves. The pilot even announced, the snob, that we were “back to civilization.” Let’s see – leaving a thousand years of civilization and a return to frigid chaos ? Hmm…

We were fortunate enough to have both son Tim and Daughter Kelley team-tag us to overnight ship us some mostly appropriate clothes and shoes, and then return same to Colorado. Greater Cleveland had 17 inches of snow the day before we arrived, and, impressively, their streets were clean and clear. Nice work, you all – very civilized. We needed to be there, and to spend precious quantities of time with people we love, and people we don’t often see. Our wardrobe was eclectic – borrowed coats, hats, gloves and scarves in all sizes, and colors, but the warmth and support was of import not the fashion.

I’ve seldom been as moved as when I watched love and connection made real by people showing up in bitter frigid weather to greet and make everyone comfortable, a whole-family engagement that was very affirming. Relatives on both sides, and the technicolor array of interaction of schools, politics, church, choir, support groups, old friends, caregivers, former co-workers. The scales and slates are always cleaned at death, and we join together at a conjunction of forgiveness, sadness and memory.

Catholic Mass, with amazing comments by the lead priest, and an eulogy by Brother Bill are streamed, available at Churchofresurrection.org (navigate on “Related Videos” to “The Funeral Mass for Lynn Lavezzi”). If you don’t want to watch the entire mass, you could select the parts of interest, perhaps. The homily is early on, and the eulogy, by Bill, is last.

Returning, we got a nights sleep and went off in the morning to a conference for which we had been registered, with the lead speakers Colorado friends of ours. Again, half the attendees were from Canada. The Westin too was intense, as it is in the hotel and marina area, with all the emotional hit of palm tree forests, blue sea, and sandy beaches, iguanas and captive birds on a long curve of photographic perfection, high rises and hotels each perfectly curled around their stretch of sand. Our little Air B&B, so deliberately chosen for its “Mexican living experience” would stand out in its lack of bougie amenities. We expect that the workers at the hotel probably live someplace close by to us here.

I got a mani and pedi before we left PV – gotta look put together, right? No shabby nails! My pedicure was interesting, and very unlike any I have had in the states. No water soaking involved, no massage but a nice thoughtful nail job. The manicure – not so much – I will wait to heal my cuticles before I try again, someplace else. But I did have a great conversation in mixed English/ Spanish, so it was fruitful.

Taxi service is generously available everywhere, although we take an Uber since it avoids communication/negotiation/currency thoughts/hassles. There is another service that is a competition to Uber (Didi) that is supposed to pay their drivers better, and run slightly differently. They are a subservice of Uber-like vehicles, and they get us from here to there cheaply. The first car was dented all along one side, making it look like a car from Sicily, lots of unvacuumed interior smudges of dirt. The second one was as clattery as my 2012 little vehicle, but it got us there; the Ubers and taxis are shiny clean, so maybe the higher price is for car washing

Nephew Robert Lavezzi (and amazing wife Elizabeth) have a charming 2 year old who made the funeral crowd relax and find joy in the middle of all the heavy emotion. Every service should include someone as lovely and as willing to be entertaining and social as young Callan, even with his drippy nose. By the time we arrived back in PV, my cough was aggressive, my nose was dripping and we were glad we had worn masks on the plane or we would have infected a few hundred folks. We could be the current Typhoid Judy of the cold that is plaguing the country. A veritable Johnny Appleseed of malady.

Lastly, on that note, we decided to hit the pharmacy today after the conference ended Sunday. Complicated interactions are challenging and so far, we’ve done well using technology and basic words to get or not get what we want. So, when I explained my throat was sore, and my cough was really impressive, the woman got out for me three types of syrups without sugar. When I explained that I have a lung (pulmones) problem and needed something serious, she brought back another. I took it. She then found some pills that were herbal, I think. She really got into helping. I got the pills, and then she found a spray that has other herbal properties. She gave me lots of explanations, and I listened attentively, enjoying her involvement,

Lew asked: “What was all that?”

I haven’t a clue, as I don’t understand full sentences. Just take the medicine and hope for the best. She seemed to know what she was saying. Herbals can’t hurt, right? – and I can translate the directions on the packaging I think. Daughter in law Sulakkana says to stay hydrated.

This is so much fun! Cheers for helpful family, friends and pharmacists, in any language. I just wish I had better skills, or had paid attention when I had fuller use of my young brain, instead of, well, you know…

Have yourself lovely moments all day long, moment by moment — the only reality.

Judith Lavezzi