GULF SHORES, Ala. — Almost every time in life, if you give your greatest effort to what you do, you are given back a sense of triumph and a feeling of pride that only you can understand; you are given a feeling that by the end of the day you can comfortably sleep without any degrading thoughts or doubts that you hadn’t given your daily task everything you had to offer. In my case, I’m just given more dishes.

At the beginning of the summer I began searching for a job that would keep me busy and would also be successful in reeling in the crisp $20 bills that happily rest in one’s wallet during an expensive two and a half months. After searching for a few weeks I decided to apply at Sea and Suds. Knowing that Sea and Suds has always been a popular place to eat in Gulf Shores, I was very pleased when I was welcomed into the family as a new employee. But when I discovered that I was now the new owner of the dishwashing task, I didn’t become quite as ecstatic as one would think.

I started off my day filling, what seemed to be, an endless supply of cups with tarter sauce until the restaurant opened at 11 a.m. Once the doors opened I was handed the apron, gloves, and the only thing that was left: the dishes. But I quickly realized that it was nothing more than a walk in the park; every now and then when a few dishes were thrown my way I would rinse them off and hand them over to the automatic dishwasher.

I arrived back at the restaurant on Saturday morning, expecting another simple day that would slowly ease by without any disturbance. After filling cups with tarter sauce, I threw on my apron and waited for the doors to open. Once they opened, the rude awakening I had in store for myself had only just begun. The restaurant was already packed by 11:30 a.m. and before I knew it, a pile of dishes that came up to my neck was speedily growing right beside me.

Load after load of dishes were being sent out and sent back in faster than I could blink. Once the day had finally ended, I crawled to my ride-home drenched, aching, and most of all, exhausted. I went home that afternoon a humbled man; I foolishly assumed after the first day that I was going to get paid for lounging around, eating and observing customers.

After that afternoon, the desire to work for a few more weeks and quit my job was definitely growing into larger letters on my “things to do” list. But honestly, the only reason I didn’t end up quitting was because I would have been too humiliated, seeing as the only requirement was to wash dishes.

So thanks to the fear of humiliation, and that the newly earned pocket change was coming in handy, I wasn’t even close to thinking about hanging up the “ole dishwashing gloves” yet.

So my luck slowly began to change for the better. After about a month, I began to get to know everyone and now I feel at home. Although washing dishes didn’t become the least bit more enjoyable, I’ve really started to love the people I’m working with.

But my perspective has truly changed now when “eating out”. I feel guilty for enjoying myself while employees who have been working for hours are slaving over the additional task I have given them.

I really appreciate what goes on behind the scenes of the food business now.

I’ll never just be a consumer again, rather I’ll view things differently; good, hard-working people interacting with other good, hard-working people.

I see real people now with families and kids to look after, trying to get through another day while doing their jobs.

I have gained many more experiences that will be looked back on with a grin in my future.

I’ve met a lot of great people, learned more about the food business, earned some money, and even gained a few pounds; and washing dishes isn’t too terrible.

But hey, keep this to yourself:  I still dream of one day being promoted to a bus-boy … .

Basch Jernigan will be a sophomore at Gulf Shores High School next year. He welcomes all questions, comments and opinions. He can be reached at basch@gulftel.com.