Andy Rooney

Have you ever had a Hero that you didn't realize was your Hero, until it was too late? About a month ago, I was privileged enough to witness the last broadcast of my friend (though he didn't know it) Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes. I just found out that he died last night. God Bless You Andy.

So many times I found myself tuning in for at least the last few minutes of 60 minutes. Sometimes they have topics that are interesting to me, and some times they don't. But I always enjoyed Mr. Rooney's comments. And the funny thing is that I didn't always agree with his point of view. I just always liked his style. He talked about things the way he really thought about them. He once said, and I quote, "I'm in a position of feeling secure enough so that I can say what I think is right and if so many people think it's wrong that I get fired, well, I've got enough to eat."

What I Love about that sentence - about Andy, is that he said what he thought was RIGHT. From what I know about him, that's the way he lived his life. The way he thought was right.

I knew I liked watching him, and listening to him. But I don't think I realized that he was one of my Hero's until a year or so ago. One night, watching him on TV. He said something in his cranky old way, that actually had me laughing out loud. He didn't care if it was politically correct. And just as he said in the above quote, he was past caring if it even got him fired. Actually he got in trouble off and on for most of his life for speaking his mind. I don't think he knew how to be coy. But, another thing I love about him is that he was never mean, that I saw. He may not have been PC, but at least he was honest. And he was a caring person.

Sometimes I struggle with myself. Okay - honestly, I almost always struggle with myself. I try to be politically correct most of the time, but as a lot of you know, I don't always succeed. I get angry and I speak my mind. Because I'm an author, and someday hope to be a really successful author, people tell me all the time that I should stay away from controversial subjects...like politics. But I guess I am not good at listening to them. I can't seem to help myself. Not because I think my opinions really matter so much; but because I have a need to help. I really love this world we live in, and I love our country. So if my being honest and saying how I really feel about matters, means I may lose a few friends or even dare I say 'fans' - then so be it.

When I say I hope to be a successful author, I don't mean for the money ... although my family would appreciate it, lol. I certainly don't mean for the fame, the thought of that intimidates and scares me a little bit. But what I really mean is that I hope what I write is meaningful to people in some way. Whether I write a novel or a blog, an article or a hub, I just always hope that it hits home to someone. That in some way I've touched a nerve, or - especially a heart.

People have told me that my books affect them in different ways. Through my books, I've actually made people laugh or cry, I've made them feel scared or joyful - and I won't tell you the things they say about the intimate and sexy scenes. I have to clear my throat just thinking about those comments.

My books have been categorized so far in the Thriller genre. So to be able to inspire those feelings in people just thrills me. My articles, blogs, and hubs have made people sometimes think differently about something. See something in a new light. I love the feeling of writing and finishing a manuscript. And then getting feedback from the readers. So maybe that is what I love the most about Hubpages. It's almost instant gratification. I've made some really awesome friends here, and I think I've made a few people hate me. But in the end that is okay, because I don't like them either. I really don't like mean spirited people. I know everyone has a bad day, or goes through a bad time, but they don't have to be so very mean to other people.

So from now on when I feel a little guilty about being too political, about speaking my mind so openly, I'm just going to think about my friend Andy Rooney and remember that is the thing I enjoyed the most about him. He stood up for what he believed in.

May God Bless Us All

~ KT Banks