Andy Rooney, the cranky 60 Minutes opinionist (as I liked to call him) died at the age of 92. He will be missed by those who found his cranky nature amusing.
What I liked most about his crankiness was that it was never fashioned in a malicious way or even in a depressive one. There are cranks who are simply mean and have no basis for their diatribes. Rooney could state reasons for why he felt that way and never did I think that he wasn’t well adjusted or should see a therapist for depression.
Like so many of those who we think are wise, Rooney just called it as he saw it. “Didja ever notice?” was the catchphrase but his entire monologue was centered on exactly that. Noticing when something had gone awry. When it annoyed him, he pointed it out and often enabled most of us to share in his common sense because he brought the ridiculous to the light of day.
Junk mail was one of my favorites:
First, if the word “important” is on the envelope, you can be pretty sure there’s nothing important inside. Toss that! If it happens to be a bill, don’t worry. They’ll send another.
The word “important” has been used so much that it has lost its importance, so they now often substitute “urgent.”
Ain’t it the truth.
Andy Rooney was never junk mail. He was a delightful crank and will be missed.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord and let perpetual life shine upon him. May Andy’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.