For Mrs. Crooms, Our Oracle
Mrs. Carol Crooms, The Carol L. Crooms Center, Utica, NY Oracle: a person or thing regarded as an infallible authority or guide on something. For our lady of wisdom, love, and light. The woman who dishes out loving food and wisdom, from her home, something she had been doing all her life, but on Sunday October 26, 2003, Mrs. Carol Crooms became The Oracle for my son Cannaday and his college roommate Sam. My daughter Ana and I were in town from Rochester for Pratt at Munson Williams Proctor’s family weekend, and Mrs. Crooms, my dear friend Kim’s mom, had invited us for dinner. I don’t remember the meal but I remember the “dessert”- sitting in Mrs. Crooms’ kitchen, the young men eating at the table with Ana, as Mrs. Crooms lovingly “preached.” She spoke many words of wisdom to them as she served extra helpings on their plates. The young people were quiet, either because their mouths were too full or their ears and minds were too full trying to comprehend the wisdom she was te...