Opaque Lucidity

The Story Untold

You know all about Anna Nicole Smith's death by now. She was 39. She had a career that was both incredible and horrific. If you stop and think about it, her life could have ended no other way.

Anna Nicole was the embodiment of what many women in our society want: blond, Playmate/model, wealthy, famous for being famous. We learned over the past few years that her life was actually a train wreck. She was surrounded by people who seemed to feed on her. In the end, she seemed as if she was doped up all the time.

Anna Nicole was the result of a life in which no one expected very much. She did not finish high school. She was married at 18. She was a stripper. She married an 85-year old millionaire and became an embarrassment in a courtroom. She did a reality show in which she was portrayed as an air-head confused by even the most basic facets of life. It seems like she was led around from one trauma to another by people whose intentions were probably less than pure.

I might be wrong, but it seems like there was no one in her life who ever challenged her to be more than she thought she was. And so she existed as a dumb, slutty blond that men drooled over while they laughed at her stupidity. It's sad because it happens so often: so many people expect the pretty girl to just go through life being pretty. If you don't believe me, go to a cheerleading camp or a beauty pageant for young girls. You will find the mother who wasn't popular or good-looking and who is trying to re-live her life through her little darling who will be taught that the best thing she can be is a hot piece of ass.

Anna Nicole Smith rose exactly to this lowest level of expectation.