Bianco’s Italian Restaurant is a landmark in Lawton, Oklahoma. The restaurant still makes the same spaghetti sauce that Tony Bennett enjoyed when he performed at the local auditorium decades ago.
Each Friday afternoon before heading off for a game, the 63 members of nearby Lawton High School’s football team gather together to share fellowship and a meal of spaghetti, salad, bread, and blue Gatorade.
I was waiting for a take-out order of lasagna and spaghetti when three busloads of young athletes filtered in. They knew the drill and seemed very organized and disciplined. I graduated from LHS decades ago, although physically I am often mistaken for a college student. Before the meal, a student stood up and said grace. This was an eloquent prayer giving thanks for the food and fellowship. His earnest words were inspirational to me, so I asked the young black male sitting closest to me if the team captain gives the prayer.
“No, ma’am,” he politely replied. Anyone could say grace. I looked at the 12 tables in the small restaurant, completely filled with courteous young men who addressed their elders as “ma’am” or “sir.” Black or white, or any other color, ethnicity made no difference in how the team members arranged themselves.
I tried to think of any teacher or administrator from my time who could still be at the school. But that was decades ago. “Do you know Mrs. Brammer?” finally spurted out of my mouth. The convivial players at the table seemed surprised that this stranger had heard of the popular English teacher at their school. I had never met Mrs. Brammer, but I had interviewed an outstanding prospect for my Ivy League alma mater earlier in the year who happened to be her son. JP had asked if he could stay in touch. It is rare for two students from this town of just under 100,000—the hometown of Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007—to be accepted to the same Ivy League school in the same year. JP was one of them, but he had opted to attend school closer to home on a full scholarship.
“She’s JP’s mother… Y’all know JP…he was Lore yearbook editor last year.” By now they were engaged…they recognized JP and his mom. “JP is a friend of mine,” I continued. Evidence of how small my world has become…a hometown girl transplanted to the East Coast who returned home to her roots, where her parents, as first generation immigrants, were among the first Asians to settle in this part of southwest Oklahoma in the 1960’s.
By then, my take-out order had arrived. I wished the team luck in tonight’s game against Altus and told them I would post our meeting as an inspirational story on the StrangeTango.com personal website tonight. One of my friends is an assistant coach who recently enthused about a young athlete who is charismatic, humble, hungry, and overly polite. At Bianco's Italian Restaurant this afternoon, I’m privileged to have been in a room full of them.
“She’s JP’s mother… Y’all know JP…he was Lore yearbook editor last year.” By now they were engaged…they recognized JP and his mom. “JP is a friend of mine,” I continued. Evidence of how small my world has become…a hometown girl transplanted to the East Coast who returned home to her roots, where her parents, as first generation immigrants, were among the first Asians to settle in this part of southwest Oklahoma in the 1960’s.
By then, my take-out order had arrived. I wished the team luck in tonight’s game against Altus and told them I would post our meeting as an inspirational story on the StrangeTango.com personal website tonight. One of my friends is an assistant coach who recently enthused about a young athlete who is charismatic, humble, hungry, and overly polite. At Bianco's Italian Restaurant this afternoon, I’m privileged to have been in a room full of them.
