Classic Saturday Night Live, but could have been the Rainbow!
We had worked together for several months, during which my colleague kept telling me we needed to go up to the Rainbow Drive-in. The Rainbow, as it was affectionately known, was a well-known eating an establishment on Poinsette Highway in Greenville, SC. In many ways it reminded me of that Saturday Night Live sketch! For many years, it was a frequently visited site for students from Furman University, who especially enjoyed their milkshakes.
Finally we went. For a reason neither of us remember we were dressed up, WAY overdressed for this establishment! We walked in, found our way to a booth, and sat down. Almost immediately our waitress, Valentina came up to take our drink order. Being in the south I ordered iced tea! When she came back to take our food order, (jumbo sliced barbecue half-and-half) she asked rather innocently, “Do you work at Michelin?”
Before I could respond, Woody said honestly,” No, we work at First Baptist.”
Immediately, she slid into the booth beside me as if she had been waiting for this opportunity forever. “Let me ask you a question!” she said. I was waiting for some deep inquiry about the nature of humanity, but instead she asked very seriously, “What do you think about Amy Grant doing pop music?”
It was 1991, and Amy Grant, a former Furman student, had just crossed over from religious music with a tune that was heading up the pop charts, “Baby, Baby.” (I’ve wondered if Amy ever made it to the Rainbow?)
I don’t remember my answer, but from then on anytime we went back, my iced tea was sitting at the table before we even sat down. I never had another choice about what I was going to eat. Valentina remembered and she always had a theological question du jour!.
I’ve thought about her a lot this past week, ever since I heard Amy Grant‘s new single. It’s the first one in a decade, but it is a long way from El Shaddai! The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm) is an invitation to sit with the unrest that is enveloping our nation and world and asks how did we get from Woodstock to January 6?
She doesn’t offer any answers, just ask the questions. It is well worth a listen!
“What do you think about Amy Grant doing pop music?” Valentina asked.
I wonder what she would think now.
I wonder what you think.