Valentine’s Day in Lubbock is not for the weak. No. It’s for the prepared and the emotionally flexible. Basically, anyone who is willing to accept that romance here often comes with a side of windburn and a longer that average wait time. If that sounds like you, then it’s time to begin preparing for the festivities. It’s coming up quick.

Here’s a short survival guide to Valentine’s Day in the Hub City:

Photo by Matt Nelson on Unsplash

Rule 1: Make a plan for what you’ll be doing early, or immediately lower your expectations. If you haven’t already secured your reservations, congratulations, you are now choosing between a 90+ minute wait time, eating fast food in the car, or just pretending that you “don’t even care about Valentine’s Day anyway.” All of these options are valid. Every single one of them will test your spirit.

Rule 2: Dress for chaos. Your cute outfit will be ruined by the weather in some way, shape, or form, and your hair won’t stand much of a chance either. Lubbock weather doesn’t seem to respect effort, love, or flat irons. You’ll probably want to dress warm and wear shoes you can walk in. Valentine’s Day is not a good time to test out your new heels. Blisters are the last thing you need when you’ve got to park and walk a mile to get in line at your favorite restaurant.

Read More: The Emotional Stages of Leaving Lubbock for One Weekend

Rule 3: Ignore V-Day Specials. Every restaurant in town is going to have a “special Valentine’s Day menu,” and it’s going to cost more than a normal meal and offer you fewer choices. It’s not a scam so much as a tradition. Just order confidently and don’t look at other tables. They’ll be much more romantic than yours and might even involve candlelight. Comparison is the thief of joy.

Rule 4: Expect to see someone you don’t want to see. You’ll probably run into your ex and their new partner. Maybe you’ll see someone you ghosted, or vice versa. Lubbock is small, and Valentine’s Day has a way of summoning our demons. Ignore them. They aren’t your date for a reason.

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

And, if you are single, you’re actually the real winner. You don’t have to worry about any pressure at all. You can go out alone and eat the entire dessert yourself! Or, stay home with your pets, in your jammies. That’s my vote. Avoid the collective panic entirely!

That’s the key to surviving Valentine’s Day in Lubbock. Just keep it simple, lower expectations, turn the humor on full blast, and remember, if nothing else, it’ll all be over by the following day.

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