Readers may have stumbled across an October post about Hirsch and me enjoying a cigar at Classic Cigars and Lounge in Downtown Tulsa. Talking about our blogging hobby that night, I decided, what the heck, I'd be using my hobby in part as one voice for traditional Catholics in my Local Church.
The original post: Calling All Okie Traditionalists
Cigars with a Trusted Tulsa Trad:
Fast forward a couple months later--last night--Hirsch and I met up again at the same cigar lounge, but this time with a local Tulsa Trad gentleman we've only known so far through Facebook. He's a man I'd consider to be one pillar in the local trad community. I'd give his name, but then I'd risk people pressuring him to say who we are, and if so then, well, we'd have to kill him. haha
So, I'm not exactly in the habit of buying $10 cigars, but it was actually well worth it considering the one cigar would last an hour and a half. We grabbed a corner towards the back and started ordering whiskeys, rum and diet cokes, and a hot toddy for Hirsch who had a sore throat. The waitress was attentive with holiday cheer, bringing us endless supplies of Gardettos and Vickis potato chips.
This was a new experience for me, already newish to the cigar bar scene, but this time in a group of fellow Okie Trads in the back of a literally smoke-filled room, as it were, ruminating and reflecting on church, society, and daily life.
Subjects varied. Of course there was the requisite examination of our blogs and the Konderla Affair, but soon we were sharing our stories as traditional Catholics and common experiences with familiar people and places across the Latin Mass scene. After an hour or so the discussion turned more deeply to details of current, geopolitical affairs--of which I am decidedly ignorant--but no worries, I grabbed a bag of Vicki's and leaned back and listened. By then I had a very heavy buzz going on from the cigar. (Mental note: next time ask clerk which cigars give less buzz)
Words of Affirmation:
There are a few things I think I can impart from this somewhat incognito meetup with this Catholic gentleman, who likewise takes the pulse of our Local Church: it seems we are not alone in our analysis of recent events in the Tulsa diocese, and a similar consternation is running through the local trad community.
Likewise, in our opinion, while there is a time and place to address our specific trad differences, now is the time more than ever for Okie Trads across the spectrum to unite in publicly defending the true Faith. As in, here in Oklahoma.
At any rate, it was an affirming evening.
Are there any local Okie Trads out there who would like to join in next time for cigars and whiskey? How about Bishop-emeritus Slattery, if somebody knows how to get ahold of him!?