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How to survive a blind date

By Ragan Robinson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: April 29, 2009

Hickory - Jessica Strickland's friends think of her as the dating guru. She's been with the Charlotte office of dating service It's Just Lunch for more than four years. She can look at a couple in a restaurant and tell if it's working. Here's the blind date advice she gives to her clients and her friends.

1. Put safety first. Meet your blind date in a public place. Strickland likes restaurants, where someone will be willing to walk you out. Don't be too shy to ask if you feel uncomfortable. Always let a friend or family member know where you are and when you're going to be there and have someone call you at a designated time.

2. Keep it in perspective. The first date is for deciding whether you want to see this person again. You aren't deciding if you want to marry him or her. Relax, talk, listen and smile. And for goodness sake, stay away from politics and religion.

3. Be honest and up front. Sure, it sounds like a no-brainer but we all like to please people. If there's something you're not open to, don't pretend you are. If you have kids, own it and be proud of it. If this leads to something else, the other person is going to find out sometime anyway.

4. Prepare. The awkward silence is never more awkward than on a date. Read the paper or at least Google news and current events so you'll have some conversation starters.

5. Practice in case it doesn't click. There's a chance you won't like this person. Come up with some ideas on what you'll say in that case so it won't be so hard to thank him or her and then excuse yourself gracefully — without promising to call if you're definitely not going to.

Need some advice on how to survive your next sticky situation? E-mail buzz@hickoryrecord.com or call 322-4510, x5403 to make sure we add you to the list.