-Isms

A faded envelope sat tucked inside Dad's top dresser drawer. On it, a list of dollar amounts written in his precise penmanship. More than 10 columns crossed the expanse of that pouch, each line crossed off, with the next entry either increasing or decreasing.

A childhood throwback, the envelope held chore money. Laurie had one too, and if we wanted to spend any of our hard-earned cash, we asked permission first. Mom or Dad would question if the purchase was something we honestly needed and pointed out when we longed for something frivolous, urging us to build savings for a rainy day.

While cleaning out the contents of the dresser in July, I discovered the chore envelope. According to the last entry, I withdrew $62.

I'm not sure when we quit using the envelope system, but I guess around the time we both opened a checking account and were old enough to work a part-time summer job and babysit during the school year.

The chores, though, didn't end; only the parental contribution to the fund did.

Our house had a dishwasher, two in fact, and our parents affectionately called the dishwashers LuAnn and Laurie. It was the first chore we were entrusted with.

Through the years we vacuumed, dusted and did laundry. We were expected to make our beds, put our clothes away (uh, wish that trait stuck with me as an adult) and keep our rooms tidy.

During summer months, we helped with gardening but never mowing - that was Dad's job. I usually volunteered to wash and wax the family's red Gran Torino, making it shine like the one on Starsky and Hutch.

I'm sure one, or both, of us complained when asked to take out the garbage or scoop snow. But, we did it, knowing that there are some not-so-pleasant jobs to do and by gosh, someone has to do these.

A 75-year research project - the Harvard Grant Study - found two elements people need to be happy and successful.

One is love; the other, work ethic.

According to 724 individuals who participated in the project, a simple way to develop a work ethic exists through the most basic means: having done chores as a kid.

Chore work, and the lessons learned from pitching in and helping, lead to professional success in life, according to researchers.

The earlier chores are introduced, the better. It creates a mindset that hard work pays off.

Sure, I'm certain there were times Mom rewashed the pots and pans that five-year-old LuAnn washed. And I imagine there were times Dad went over the rows of green bean plants where a young version of Laurie weeded.

Completing chores doesn't guarantee less work for parents, just like it doesn't translate to less work in the real world.

Author Robert Collier said, "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."

Daily chorework can lead to success. Doing chores makes people accountable and increases a sense of responsibility.

It's a vital lesson in learning how to function independently in the world.