The loud bark of low heeled derelicts

Last Tuesday, Cindy Anthony e-mailed Local 6 News saying she would give away a pair of Caylee's shoes to a nonprofit organization called Children of Love Foundation, which, primarily, donates shoes, food and clothing to orphans in Central Florida and Honduras. What a mess that simple e-mail created. After WKMG announced the news, the trolls came out in droves, like a festering cauldron of abomination boiling over.

Here's what went down. It's based on factual information interspersed with my opinion, so decide for yourself. Cindy knows a woman who works at the Walgreens Pharmacy near her residence, on the corner of Narcoosee Road and Lee Vista Boulevard, in southeast Orlando. As a matter of fact, the two women have known each other for years, including before Caylee's disappearance. Cindy's acquaintance, Doris Patalano, is affiliated with Children of Love. When she found out about the shoe drive, Operation Barefoot, the group had planned for Saturday, Cindy said she would do what she could to help generate local generosity. This meant contacting the media, something Cindy has never shied away from. What unfolded was a pity.

First off, Cindy can be a pariah. We all know that. She's not the most beloved mother in Orlando or anywhere else. Neither is her daughter, but that's another story. Cindy has been known to contact the press to stir up the works, so her reputation is far from sterling. Think rotten pizza smell and her blatant spinning of words. OK, fine, but remember, she lost her own flesh and blood, and no matter what any of us think of her, it's still very painful. What ensued reminded me of the 'boy who cried wolf' syndrome, so when Cindy tried to do something righteous, it came out wrong, as usual. She, more than likely, told Doris she would contact one of the media outlets and the woman thought it would help tremendously. Cindy thought about it later and decided, on her own, to donate a pair of Caylee's shoes. What a marvelous idea! Only it wasn't. To some people, everything she touches turns to crumbling dirt, and that's a shame.

As soon as word got out, all "heel" broke loose and the laces became untied. What started out as, more than likely, an innocent gesture turned ugly very quickly. Suddenly, the pharmacy got nasty and threatening phone calls. The nonprofit foundation got the same treatment and more, including despicable e-mails from some very vulgar people. Trust me, I know who some of those trolls are because they admitted it on a very open and malevolent site, where they plotted this nefarious plan of attack. One person with many phony names compounded by more of the same appears larger than the truth. What they decided to do was astonishing, and just about as stupid as the Salem Witch Craft Trials of 1692. They body slammed Doris and the foundation. Hard. They said if she or her damn organization accepts a pair of shoes or anything else from George and Cindy Anthony, they wouldn't just boycott the pharmacy and foundation, they'd bury them. They'd get the word out that Children of Hope is evil, rotten, and deserves to be driven out of existence. Not only that, but CVS would be more than happy to take their money for all of the psychiatric and antipsychotic medications they are prescribed, not to mention drugs for IBS and other maladies brought on by their own self-destructive doings. Of course, they finished their tirades the same way they do everywhere they squat - JUSTICE FOR CAYLEE, as if justice is theirs and theirs alone to give.

Initially, the poor foundation was beside itself. It had no idea the world was filled with so much hate, particularly against one person; two, if you count George. Fearing for their own safety, the group almost called the whole thing off. Fortunately, sound minds came along and sanity prevailed. In the end, the shoe drive was successful. George and Cindy dropped off six pairs of shoes and a bag of socks, all new, that will help orphaned children. Lots of other people did the same, ignoring the persevering pestilence that permeated the Interwebz.

The sad part about this is that a small clan of people can almost disrupt a good cause. Did Cindy set out to help Children of Love or was it more along the line of trying to make herself look good; to help rehabilitate her ailing reputation? It may have been a bit of both, but so what? In truth, most of those caustic complainers do not live anywhere near Orlando, nor will they ever give an ounce of help or hope to the foundation or anywhere else. What they set out to destroy was a complete farce. How dare they try to take shoes, clothes, and other items away from hundreds of children in need because of their hatred of one woman. What rotten souls they are. If ever there were a line of shoes called Cads, they would be filled by these worn out, low-down heels.