Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995                   TAG: 9509080026
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S10   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

FROM OUR READERS

Dear Neighbors:

What price one has to pay to enjoy a week at the beach!

Seafood, barbecued ribs, sun, freedom to sleep late, no clocks and the ocean are some of the pluses of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

But the minus column almost (or maybe does) outweighs the good. The terrible traffic is first on the negative column.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic into and out of the city; lines at restaurants; lines to buy the simplest of supplies; at least four kids and one or two dogs to every couple; firecrackers; confusion; and the heat make one wonder if she has good sense to travel for a whole day - or night - to be so miserable.

Always having wet clothes is not my cup of tea. I couldn't walk out of the door without my hair wilting and my under garments getting all steamed up.

One can only swim or shower so much! And, South Carolina is definitely a two-shower a day state.

Getting in your closed car is pert nigh a death sentence. Can't hold on to the wheel. Can't touch the keys or anything metal. Can't get it cooled down for any of the little short destinations, either.

Wal-Mart and many of the stores are not cool as one would expect. When I inquired if the air conditioner was broken, the clerk said, "no, it is controlled in Arkansas!"

After a full week of sweating and three cases of soft drinks, I've determined that if I lived in Myrtle Beach, I'd buy disposable diapers and wear them at the top - and bottom! Then when I got soaked - I'd simply throw them away and get dry again!

Donna Garrett

Roanoke