For me, the first of these adventures-turned-chores was washing the car. It was great fun in the summer; we didn't have air conditioning then so any excuse to

For me, the first of these adventures-turned-chores was washing the car. It was great fun in the summer; we didn't have air conditioning then so any excuse to go outside and spray the hose was great as far as I was concerned. But before too long that chore extended into the fall and spring when it was chilly and not remotely fun. It only ended when I was 16 and had the idea to drive the car to the local carwash instead.