Posted by
Darvin Dowdy on Thursday, February 15, 2007 7:30:15 PM
It was in Houston on November 28th, 1967 that little Vickie Lynn was born to Donald and Virgie Mae Hogan. Less than a month before Christmas. This could have been the beginning of a another solid, Texas family, the glue binding them together being their beautiful little blonde daughter. But that wasn’t to be. The shiftless, no good Donald soon deserted Mother and precious baby. Donald would be the first of 5 husbands for Virgie Mae with many brothers, sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters for little Vickie. Virgie Mae seemed to be chasing a dream all of her life. Looking for something wearing trousers that would fulfill her. Her children, obviously, not being that. These are the first of many people to fail little Vickie Lynn.
Sometime in the mid 1980’s Virgie Mae and Vickie Lynn “showed up” in Mexia, Texas. Vickie Lynn dropped out of school in the 11th grade, got a job at the local fried chicken joint where she met Billy Wayne Smith. She was 17. He 16. This was her chance to “ditch” the Hogan name forever and push that aspect of her life deep into her sub-conscience. In 1986 Vickie Lynn gave birth to a son Daniel. Billy Wayne left and she was determined to take care of and cherish her son. She received no help from the “good folks” of Mexia. They never accepted her. One of the “prominent” local ministers from one of the “prominent” local churches said of her, “…not somebody we consider as one of our own”. And this “Minister” and flock appear to be added to the number of those who failed Vickie Lynn.
So Vickie Lynn packed up Daniel and they headed to Houston, working at Walmart and Red Lobster and not really making it, as one would imagine. Vickie Lynn had never been taught about spiritual and mental assets or how to use them. Again, many in her past had failed to teach her about such tools. But there was one asset that she was acutely aware of – her striking beauty and build. So when her back was against the wall and an opportunity arose, she used this asset. In the late 80’s she took a job in a Houston strip club. And, of course, the rest is history. Vickie Lynn Smith soon became Anna Nicole Smith. The promoters and lawyers soon controlled her life. In 1991 she married J. Howard Marshall. Possibly hoping that her and Daniel would be rescued from the insanity. Marshall, however, was nothing but a depraved old reprobate. And another person in Vickie Lynn’s life that failed her in a major way. In 1993 another depraved reprobate got hold of Vickie Lynn. Hugh Hefner. She became one of Playboys top models and 1993 Playmate of the Year.
So the promoters, photo shoots, lawyers, lawsuits, B-rated films, the reality show, the madness and the insanity continued for the next 13 years. Unlucky 13. Her career went up and down like a roller coaster. Each day a bit of Vickie Lynn was consumed by any willing to pay. This was the life that she had chosen for herself. Her justification was that it was for Daniel. But on September 10th, 2006 a massive part of Vickie Lynn’s life was devoured when her son Daniel died of a drug overdose. None of those that used her and abused her had done anything to help her protect that which was most precious to her. And her reality now was that she had put her and Daniels lives into the hands of these sleazy individuals. Who else could she blame but herself.
Maybe Vickie Lynn could find no one else to blame but I see plenty of blame to go around. These people know who they are and they’ll have to live with what they have done. Maybe Vickie Lynn, Billy Wayne and Daniel could have been much happier living in a mobile home in Mexia, Texas struggling from paycheck to paycheck. They were very young when they married. The odds were stacked against them. But what if…?
But instead Vickie Lynn became Anna Nicole. A product. A brand. A consumable. Marketed and used by her handlers. I wonder who’ll be next now that she’s been used up. Certainly there are plenty standing in line. DD
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