Complain, complain, complain! Everything costs too much. I can't afford this or even that. All I do is work, work, work, and I still can barely pay the rent. You buy something, and it's worn out before you even get it home.

Ten bucks will hardly get you anything anymore. Why, I can remember when $10 would fill the car, rent a movie and still buy popcorn.

Oh, my word! I sound like my parents. I guess it's just hereditary that I fuss about money and the fact that costs keep rising. But let me tell you: some things are still good for 10 bucks.

I love the theater. On stage, backstage, in the audience - you name it. I just enjoy the boards. Recently, I had the privilege to see "An Evening with the Stars" presented by The Calhoun Players on the same stage where my daddy performed in his grammar school days. And, it was tremendous.

With the help of Dode Prickett, W.C. Fields cracked some of his wise-acre jokes, but the true talent lay in the stars themselves. They all were good, but some were just outstanding. And, to think they are "homegrown" right here in our backyard!

Donna Waltz portrayed Loretta Lynn. I've seen Lynn in concert, and Waltz could be her sister. Victoria Mack sang so well that if you closed your eyes, you thought Rihanna was on stage. And, Tim Miller made an excellent Randy Travis.

By far, the show-stopper for the evening was little Elly Haigler as Shirley Temple - cute as a button and talented as well. Then, looking like the July model for a tractor calendar, Kenny Chesney (Todd Coleman) took the stage. Talk about a stage presence!

Following closely in his ilk was teenager John Thomas Hair as Chris Brown. And then, the final two performers who simply brought the house down - Johnny Grubbs as Elvis ("All Shook Up"), and it must have been Patsy Cline herself singing "Crazy."

I remember when the Orangeburg Mall was built across from the high school (now Clark Middle School). They had a number of promotions to entice residents to come to the mall and shop. Several times, they dropped things from an airplane into the parking lot, and they had a goldfish giveaway. But they also had a special show featuring Patsy Cline. I wasn't allowed to go to the show, but Mom and Dad went, and they talked about how good it was. Of course, we all had to listen to Cline then. She had such a wonderfully clear voice with such a magnificent range. I don't know who portrayed her in The Calhoun Players' show, but she was simply outstanding.

For the 90 minutes of the show, all the worries of the day vanished. Bills seemed to pay themselves, and the clothes jumped into the washer and then dryer on their own. Dishes cleaned themselves and slipped back on the shelves all while, for just 10 bucks, I was transported to a concert hall in Calhoun County.

Next time you see a 10-spot, think about all the Community Calendar events we have offered right here in The Times and Democrat. There are farmers' markets, craft shows, church bazaars, theatrical productions of all types, "Taste Of's," just to name a few.

You'll soon realize that for just $10 bucks, or even less, you can still get a lot.

T&D Correspondent Sherryl M. Peters can be reached by e-mail at boykinbaby@surrealestate.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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