Lubbock is my home. It always bothers me when I talk to new students who say, “Lubbock is boring. There’s nothing to do in Lubbock. I wish I were somewhere else.” Frequently, these students are wearing Sherpa boots and have orange skin.
Natalie Maines agreed with these radioactive students, but for more personal reasons, according to the Dixie Chicks song “Lubbock or Leave It.” While the song is quite sarcastic and mean-spirited, I recognize there are many who adhere to these heresies. This column is a reply to those complaints.
Lubbock is unique. Lubbock is bold. Lubbock is West Texas. Those who do not understand its relaxed culture will not appreciate Lubbock. Lubbock is like a scratch-and-win lottery game: On the surface, the town is rough and dry, but hidden prizes await those who search.
I believe finding fun in Lubbock probably is a little more difficult for some than in the big cities of the country. However, I think those who cannot find fun in West Texas lack creativity and resourcefulness. Twenty-year-olds should be able to find entertainment for themselves, and Lubbock does not lack venues for fun.
Part of the attraction to Lubbock derives from disconnecting from the big city culture. Lubbock is just the right size to offer almost all of the amenities of a big town with a small town feel.
Without any real traffic problems, you can get anywhere in town within a quarter hour. However, at the same time, we have football teams, a major university, a great symphony orchestra and huge local events. Our city-slicker transplants need to relax, because high culture is definitely present in the plains. We gave birth to Buddy Holly, Mac Davis, the Maines brothers and even Glenna Goodacre.
The dialect is not impossible to learn: Texan is beautiful in its own right. It just takes some time to become accustomed to the drawl. Try using the words “y’all,” “fixin’” and “heap” in a sentence: “Y’all are fixin’ to have a heap of fun in Lubbock.”
Some say the best thing to do in Lubbock is to watch the grass grow. True, Lubbock is not a tropical paradise, but the staked plains offer much in terms of scenic beauty. It seems that none of these radioactive Lubbock-doubters have enjoyed a day of canoeing or hiking around the Yellowhouse Draw. The flat plains are perfect for road cycling. Caprock Canyons offers beautiful changes in elevation, a 65-mile trail through tunnels and even a state herd of bison.
The best part of Lubbock springs from the people. Some say we’re too religious or even hypocritical, but I think we’re just opinionated. What do you expect from a town with religious origins (some of the founders of Lubbock were Quakers)? Besides, here in Lubbock, a handshake and a grin actually mean something. Lubbockites are hardworking; this probably stems from the rich farming and ranching heritage that has shaped our destiny and local personality.
So, if you are having trouble appreciating Lubbock, I have a few suggestions: Take a day trip to some of the state parks around the city. Listen to some live country and rock music (or better yet, Western Swing, a genre created by Bob Wills in Turkey, 75 miles away). Go to the Fair. Watch a local high school football game (which feels completely different than a Tech game, but just as exciting).
Shun interstate culture and eat somewhere local. Ask a farmer about cotton or maize. Or, do what the locals do by drinking your favorite beverage on the porch and watching dusk.
I beg you, do not buy into the myth that Lubbock is a bad place to be. I say, if you don’t like Lubbock, then you should leave it!
