It’s so hard to put some things to rest. The media keep them before our eyes constantly and we often complain that they focus too much attention on certain people and events.

But let’s be fair about it. The media show us what we want to see, what will attract viewers and keep them. I don’t care if I never hear about Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears again, but it’s unlikely that I can escape. Although they have gone from sex symbols to jokes to tragic figures - the perfect “don’t let this happen to you” example for young girls - the media keeps them ever before our eyes.

Even the fact that the AP vowed not to report any Paris Hilton news for a week made news. So while the AP weren’t talking about her, everyone was talking about how they weren’t going to talk about her.

Anna Nicole Smith’s continuing death saga captivates the public’s attention equally. In death she has risen above the sordid details of her life to evoke public sympathy, become a tragic figure and inspired a kinder and gentler opinion, especially from women. All those who sneered at the Playboy Playmate who at age 26 married an 89-year-old oil billionaire, no longer viewed her as a bleached-blonde golddigger but as a young woman who had lived a hard-knock life and was being cheated of her due by the son who fought her bid for a share of his deceased father’s estate.

There was only slight interest when Anna Nicole gave birth to her daughter 5 months ago. But when her 20 year-old-son died mysteriously in her hospital room just 3 days later, the tragic spin of her life and the media coverage of it was set into high gear. Speculation about the paternal parentage of Dannielynn took center stage with even Zsa Zsa Gabor’s husband claiming to have fathered the baby.

But Anna Nicole’s death three weeks ago stunned everybody. It has been three weeks of investigation and speculation, court dates and arguments over custody of the body and burial location. After all this, the only thing we knew three weeks ago that is still true today is that Anna Nicole Smith is dead.

Now, finally, pallbearers have carried Anna Nicole to her final resting place. I hope the media obsession is buried along with her.