I agree that the persona that she created, wittingly or not, certainly was a caricature, and it lent itself to endless jokes on the talk show circuit. In my real life circle, I never once even heard her name. I would guess that we all recognized the human being behind the facade.

The sadness I feel is the same thing I find myself feeling whenever a person dies without ever having attained what they were capable of doing. Like Elvis. Like Hank Williams. Like many another early death whether known only through the media or in my own experience.

Her little girl faces a difficult life. Remember the Onassis daughter? Remember 'the poor little rich girl', Gloria Vanderbilt? Vanderbilt at least built a life for herself that includes talent and achievement aside from her notoriety as a child.

I hope the Smith child is reared and nurtured by sane, loving, and wise people.