Grandma Laudati

Most everyone called her Ma.  My family, meaning my brother, sister and I called her Grandma.  

Growing up military you dont usually have the opportunity to grow up with your extended family.  We moved every three years so whatever we knew about them was learned from short phone conversations, cards usually filled with updated pictures and the seemingly sporadic visits which usually meant spending two to three days in the car only stopping for gas and food...about three days to visit divided up amounst the family members and then back on the road!

Though I didn't know her well, I knew she loved us.  Every visit she would say in her thick New England accent, " DANyell!  Come give Ma a Kiss!  Get ova here.  Come give Ma a kiss!" and she would proceed to squish my checks together until I had proper puckerage and she would PLANT one right on me!  

Not to mention the endless questions about who I am dating, why I am dating them, or why I am not dating and when did I plan on getting married.  She would then go into some gossip story which was always entertaining.  But every conversation would begin and end with her saying how much she missed and loved all of us.

What I do know about her is that she must have been a pretty strong woman.  She came over from Portugal with her family at a young age and fell in love with Ralf Armon Laudati, an Italian!  What a Romeo and Juliet story that was!!!  

Grandpa died when my mom was 7 and Grandma had four girls to take care of in Dighton-Rehobith, MA.  Eventually, she remarried and then he passed away.  

Here are a few pics of my grandma and grandpa together:

I dont really know her to be so emotional but I am deeply sadden by the emotions I hear coming from my mom.  I cant imagine what she is feeling... however, I do know that grandma felt and appreciated all the faces that appeared and the love that overwhelmed the room before she passed.   

Below are two of my favorite pictures I have taken of my grandma.  She was a feisty one!

This was New Years...I don't remember the year I went back to MA. but this was taken at my cousin Kimmy's right before I fell down the stairs and then broke their door.  Umm...yeah.  Good Times!  (there is suppose to be knee pads and a helmet waiting for me!)  I was teasing her about what was in her red party cup and then brought up my camera to document her drinking from one and I got this!  

AWESOME!  LOL!  

This was taken on my last visit.  Haha!  At my cousin Kimmy's new house!  Grandma had just realized I was taking pictures of her.  I don't remember what I said but the same thing happened.  I brought up my camera again and she showed me the love!   

Thank you for reading.

Sincerely, 

Danielle Hall