Sometimes I follow different reality shows or news stories simply because I am intrigued by other people’s interest in it. I’m not one of those people who talk to the TV screen pleading with Lauren on The Hills to “Stop seeing that asshole, Jason!” Rather I sit there wondering the reasoning behind editing decisions on reality shows – what data on human behavior led producers to choose one participant over the next or air one scene and not another.

I hear it often said that the media is a puppet of politicians. But I think the American people are puppets of the media. I see Hollywood businesses telling us what to think, how to feel, and how to relate to each other.

I don’t know if Anna Nicole was a puppet or a puppeteer but those who knew her well are suggesting it was the latter. One close friend describes her as “Dumb as a fox.” It’s a lot of hard work playing dumb. Imagine the kind of control it takes to let people laugh at you all the while pretending you don’t care.

My memories of the woman who called herself Anna Nicole Smith are of a woman laughing and smiling while everyone around her rolled their eyes and shook their heads. They all looked smug and she looked on. And I kept thinking, She must know the truth. She MUST.

I still think that.

No matter what story is now out there about her, the truth is that Vickie Lynn Hogan was a young, poor, divorced mom who did whatever she felt she had to do to get herself and her son out of a bad situation. She succeeded - at least for a while. I know many women out there can relate to that. Things did not go perfectly. She was quirky and she fell for a lot of men who were not good mates for her. Eventually, her poor choice in men and coping mechanisms led to her demise. Have you heard a similar story before? Sure you have. Everybody has a friend who, though on one hand is very smart and wonderful, on the other hand continually falls prey to some of the dumbest traps – like the opposite sex, or drugs.

Between Anna Nicole, Britney Spears, and Angelina Jolie – the price of fame is looking very, very high these days. You can fold your arms and feel justified in kicking them while they’re down. I personally am just happy my many mistakes are not the hot topic on CNN.

Anna Nicole Smith - actress, playmate, model, Texas girl, Mother