What's Your Favorite Season?

Andy Rooney Ponders The Changing Seasons

(CBS)  The following is a weekly 60 Minutes commentary by CBS News correspondent Andy Rooney.

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Most of us have a favorite season of the year but if we had the same weather for all 12 months, even if it was the weather we like the best, I don't think anyone would like it.

The island of Jamaica is supposed to have some of the best weather in the world for 12 months of the year but you couldn't pay me to live in Jamaica. There's just so much beautiful warm weather I can take. I like a little of this but then I'd want a change.

I think if we had a vote, fall would probably be most people's favorite season. Some people who like fall call it autumn. I never use the word "autumn." It sounds pretentious.

The down side to fall is it's the beginning of the end of everything. Flowers die, the leaves dry up and come off the trees, water in the lake gets too cold to swim in and vacation's are over. First thing you know someone's trying to sell you a Christmas tree.

I love a good cold winter. Nothing disrupts our lives in a better way than a really heavy snowstorm. It can be hard work but shoveling snow is fun and satisfying. There's nothing that gives you a better sense of accomplishment than shoveling a path through the snow to your front door.

Cold snowy weather is better in every way than hot, dry weather. Snow makes the whole world beautiful too. I feel sorry for the people who live in Florida all year round or kids who never owned a Flexible Flyer or rolled snowballs to make snowmen.

Winter sports are good -- skiing and skating -- covering long distances just by sliding is a great feeling.

Winter clothes are more satisfying. There's just so much clothing you can take off when it's hot. People reach the boundaries of decency very quickly disrobing in hot weather. Winter clothes, on the other hand, give you the feeling you're defeating the elements, like a tent in the rain. There's no limit to the clothes you can put on.

The worst thing that can happen to weather is when one season intrudes on the other. We don't want summer in spring or fall and that's that's what we've had in New York for much of October. There's been too much hot weather and I'm tired of wearing my summer clothes this fall.

[michellem99-2009]

Seasons
By Barbara Ann
I love the lovely
Fall colour
Of the many Maine trees.
I love the Thankgiven Day.
The Christmas time.
The roses and lilacs that
Broom in the spring.
Summer the warm sunshine.
I like summer as the light
and happy time of year.
I get home sick for Maine.
Yes Seattle is not like home.
I don''t miss the snow.

[grammawhamma]

I might like winter if it lasted only one month instead of the five months it takes up in northern Wisconsin.

[cmp271]

I like fall and winter too. I don''t like to shovel snow either, that''s why someone else does it where I live. It is nice to be inside and watch a snowstorm, and then go out in the freshness of it.

It''s the Autumn leaves that make fall have so much splendor. Spring is nice and summer too, but it just doesn''t compare.

[ladyjaneg]

I think I like all seasons for differnt reasons. Winter because after a fresh snowfall, everything looks like a postcard. And nothing beats coming into a warm house after shovelling the driveway. Spring because the earth seems liek it''s waking up again. Summer for the warmth and activities you can do and places you can go. And Autumn (yes, I say Autumn) because it''s so beautiful and colourful. :D I''m thankful to live in a place where I can get all four seasons.

[njrea58]

I feel exactly the same as Andy Rooney does about the seasons. I know live in Florida and miss New York so much. As I sat next to my husband and watched I kept saying "YES" with every comment he said. I wish I could get the husband to feel the same way. I''d move out of this seasonless swampland in a heartbeat. Give me the Fingerlakes region over beaches and palm trees any day!!

[oiznop]

An open invitation to Andy Rooney. You are cordially invited to come to my house this winter and SHOVEL MY SIDEWALK, DRIVEWAY, AND PATHS DURING THE FIRST BIG SNOW. And we will see how long you last, you stupid old fool!!!

Vince Ponzio
Pittsburgh, PA

[hwy71so]

I like bow season the best.

[zebulum1]

ya you tell them all you brainy acks andy i like winter and summer i like winter more cus all the stink sems to go away a little less people on the side walk and its allways more fun to cuddel up to a worme woman in the winter time a hot meal sems to go further and i love to play and pee in the snow liveing in alaska withe out a automobil in the winter time is for me a fun chalange i love the four seesions but winter for me is the best my iglo is lookin prety sweet for the winter hope to have lots of eskemo kiss to pass a long harsh cold winter time alexander usa alaska PS andy oll boy stop by for a cup of joe any time ive got plenty of it time that is

[gwiegand-2009]

What happened to the Andy Roonney that I once enjoyed watching? The edgy, political, call it as you see journalist who commented on things that really matter. Now you talk about the season or food that you like best. Who cares -- re you interested in my favorite season or color or whatever. Please bring back to old (or should I say youger) Rooney, or put this one out to pasture.

[soxfaninsd]

You people are insane, and Rooney is right. I''m in my last year of college in San Diego and while its been a fun time I think I''ll go crazy if I live here much longer. I go days without seeing a cloud, let alone rain.

Yeah winter can suck. Growing up in New Hampshire and Mass I got more than my fair share. But these days I want back in. Time seems to pass more quickly here in San Diego, probably because of the weather. All the months blend into each other.

As for trading Ann Arbor for Bakersfield? Have you ever been to Bakersfield? It''s a hole and a half. Michigan isn''t great either but at least you''re in Ann Arbor.

And don''t get me started on Arizona. It''s a poor man''s Southern California, full of rednecks and no beaches. It makes Florida look appealing.

[nwc51]

Andy,
You are absolutely right. Living here in Scottsdale, Arizona is awful. The sun shines 98% of the time, there is never any snow to shovel and our weather forcecast is "beautiful" almost everyday.
You belong in New York. It is bad enough you have convinced yourself you love horrible weather - you are now trying to convice the rest of us that 60 minutes is actually two hours!

[grammawhamma]

Yeah Andy...I bet you just love going out there to shovel all that white stuff. I would bet you don''t even own a snow shovel that you, yourself, has used in the last ten years. I''m guessing that you don''t even have to scrape off your own car windows.

[waqahi]

Dear Andy Rooney

It is easy to love the snow and the cold when you live in a house with central heating. Disable your central heating at home and in the office, then come back to us and say that you Looooove the colder and the really cold seasons. In Michigan there are four seasons; Almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction. I will exchange Bakersfield, CA for Ann Arbor, MI anytime. Would CBS consider me for their Dubai Bureau? I would rather have my butt melts in Dubai than turns blue in Michigan during your favorite seasons.

Ciao

Waqahi Ail Sadooq