Author: Judith Lavezzi

The Gypsy in Us ALL

(published in a slightly different form in Montana Woman magazine)

Wedding – the Caravans Conjoin

When my friends Rozetta and Brendan take their vows later this month, we will be there. Rozetta (Rose ) has the knack of being a part of things, a talent that enriches all of us. She listens carefully, and learns from multiple women, and remembers much that is said, even when mentioned off-handedly. I have known her since she was a mostly a girl, beginning her own tentative steps into the spiders web of woman-ship. We community women have all claimed a piece of nurturing her, and now are participating in another forward step toward fullness.

Excerpts in Progress

Death, Love and Ghosts

Anthony Raggio, 34 year old descendant of the Family Raggio, wants nothing more than to participate shallowly in his life, letting it unfold around him. Fate has other plans for him, as he discovers the ghosts of the past, secrets buried, and an urgent need to solve a medical problem before his Godchild dies. Stem cell research is buried in laboratories, and children are dying all around the world without recourse to medical intervention. The past is coming to greet Tony and demand that he do something, or live with the consequences.

Excerpts in Progress

Giovanni’s War

In 1860’s Italy, only the capture of Rome would make the Risorgimento complete. Giovanni Raggio’s young life holds many new experiences as he yearns to become a part of this momentous event. The people in his family, his home town, his priest, all have their own beliefs. He has yet to test his own. The excerpts from this work can be viewed, incomplete, and on their own, much like Giovanni’s own life, as he travels through Italy, determined to support the revolution.

Random Musings

Death and Taxes – a few thoughts…

Post author By Judith Lavezzi
Post date May 7, 2017
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Everything was mellow. My conscience was satisfied with itself. Several days passed before I learned differently. My awakened self had a meeting apparently, in some dark alleyway with unconscious self, and the hidden, the undercurrent, the shadow won the tussle. It was quick and it was a silent battle, as I had no idea what they were up to. It is possible the two of those selves are practicing schizophrenics. If they had known I was visiting those fragments of my disordered mind my children would have rolled their eyes, and begged me not to say anything in public.

Random Musings

Ivan the Terrible

He was a compact man of medium height, with an air of undeniable “Bad Boy” toughness about him. He stepped into the room bearing an aura of male superiority, and authority. Odd because the situation didn’t call for an attitude, though one swirled around him, wafting heavy pheromones in steroidal waves. He had on the bad boy shirt too, proclaiming some smart-alec sexual taunt. He wasn’t a young man, but rather well seasoned, clad primarily in black; ebony shirt, obsidian boots that rose above a crisp manly heel, to a level several inches below his knees.

Unpublished

Summers End

I sniff at the air in the late summer mornings. The day’s coming warmth must march over the waves of cooler air that spill out of the mountains in the pre-dawn. Soon, the chill air will crash into the valleys and bowls along the foothills during the night. I often awaken when the air changes, feeling it pouring itself into lower ground. It enters the house in a rush, before the rising sun can reverse the flow, bringing the heat to push against the mountains chill offering. I can feel this, and it energizes my body, calling it from sleep.

Unpublished

Jews for a Day

“It was the firm belief of the sages that wherever ten Israelites are assembled, either for worship or for the study of the Law, the Divine Presence dwells among them. In rabbinical literature, those who meet for study or prayer in smaller groups, even one who meditates or prays alone, are to be praised.” From Wikipedia

Unpublished

Snake Milkers and Banana Gassers

Post author By Judith Lavezzi
Post date June 22, 2013
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Graduation time. This is the week when millions of future parents, the nations upcoming work force as well as tomorrow’s leaders, begin their march into independent adulthood. I myself have several announcements received in my in-box; each graduate is to be genuinely and warmly acknowledged by their grateful families and friends for this commencement. Whether High School or University, Trade School or Technical College, all are commencing toward, or into, someplace. Stepping out into their future full of confidence and appreciation from their loved ones. Expectations are high. My advice, unsolicited – make some mistakes.

Random Musings

Finding the Mothers

Lately I have been conjuring up my foremothers out of the deep cauldron of childhood memories. As I begin to think about passing along some Mother-full wisdom, possibly some grandmotherly advice, I realized how little I have stored in my memory’s safe-deposit-vault. Was I not paying attention? Had they not passed it along? Were my lessons, my examples, my modeling buried under the sludge of time past?

Random Musings

Short Older Lady with Gray Hair

Post author By Judith Lavezzi
Post date April 22, 2013
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Red found me in the coffee shop midweek, after looking for me for a couple of days, days during which I was out of town. He had needed an introduction that I could easily make for him. The problem was, I was nowhere to be found, so he fretted, and he wandered around on a search. He is perhaps in his twenties, I suppose, or possibly 18, or 35, and had quickly become a regular at my favorite coffee shop after moving nearby two months ago. I had gone out of town, and had turned off the phone, enjoying the freedom that comes from cellular escape. It was Wednesday before we chanced to meet and he told me about his search.