10 Things We Learned from Anna

It's impossible to avoid it. It's impossible to understand it. The Anna Nicole tradgedy has permeated every medium available to the public. As I sit at work, I am afforded the opportunity to watch television from time to time. I've been watching the coverage of who gets the rights to Anna Nicole's remains. If America must be innondated with the disaster that has become Anna Nicole's life and death, there surely are lessons that we can learn from her demise.

1. Manage your personal life! I understand that we live in a society where the culture accepts promiscuity. I understand that we've developed a culture where a lifestyle of multiple partners has fewer consequences as birth control medicine improves and abortion is acceptable. However, I think it's safe to say that in Anna's case, her personal life has created a horrendous disaster for her baby Dannielynn. When a child enters the equation, it's time to take responsibility for your actions. It's not about you anymore. You have a child. Now we have a baby, who has no father, and who's mother is left to deteriorate in some room because paternity isn't determined. And even if it was determined, that father would have to battle Anna's mother. The problem with the current trial is that the judge doesn't want to deal with the paternity issues at the moment. He wants to focus on determining who has rights to Anna's body. But that has to do with paternity! Anna, I wish you would have given Dannielynn a father and eliminated all of this hassle.

2. If you've got $$$, have an explicit will! Seriously, we're not all Anna Nicole...thankfully. That woman had some serious change in the bank. Not to mention that her "name and likeness" (a legal term for her right to make money off of her fame) will make money in the days to come. If you have money, get a good lawyer (that you're not sleeping with) to cover all of your bases! A will may not be the most pleasant thing to address, but you have to address it. Anna does have a will. But, she left out some important details such as where she would like to be buried. As a matter of fact, even if you don't have money, be sure to create a will that will assure your loved ones, namely children, that they will be taken care of. By far, the more of this matter that you address for yourself, the easier it will be on all of those you leave behind.

3. Document! To me, it seems as though Anna purchased four burial plots in the Bahamas when her son died. Doesn't that mean she wanted to be buried with her son? Why wouldn't she? Well, we don't know the answer to that question. It may seem obvious to you or me, but in a court of law, the only thing that is obvious is what is on paper. Had she specified that the remaining burial plots were for her (or anyone else's) specific use, we wouldn't have the messy court hearings that we have now.

4. Get help! I can't imagine the anguish that a mother goes through when losing a son. The dispair would most definitely be unimaginable. It may be time to get some bona fide pyschological help. If there was ever a time or need for psychological help, a loss of a child is a definite. Check yourself in somewhere that you can get all the attention you need to begin dealing with such a situation. Her refrigerator showed heavy medications that most likely drove her to a state of severe sedation. If she would have sought out the help that she needed, maybe she'd still be here today. However, that remains to be seen.

Hopefully, soon we will be able to find a place for everything and everything in its place. I hope that all of those involved in this case can focus on what is important. Dannielynn is a baby girl that is going to grow up without a mother. And right now, she has no father. We will now see how the justice system will view this case. I can only hope and pray that the court does right by the baby and deals with financial information at a later date.