One Big Smooch, One Life in Pencil Moment
Posted by Anne
You’ve all seen the picture. It was V-J Day in 1945, and one very exuberant sailor planted a kiss on one very cute nurse. It’s probably one of the most well known photographs of WWII, captured in our collective memory (and college dorm rooms). Clearly, I was not around for this moment in history, yet the photo never fails to evoke…something. Joy? Nostalgia? Patriotism? Yes, yes, and yes. And also the beauty of spontaneity. I view it as a definitively Life in Pencil moment–totally unpremeditated, totally sincere.
The New York Times recently published this article about that iconic kiss, reporting that the woman who claimed to be the nurse had died at age 91. I have to wonder–was her life full of these kinds of moments? Probably not. But it doesn’t really matter. Because that one little Life in Pencil moment–captured for eternity–defined a larger moment in our national history.
Do something spontaneous this weekend.
Have you ever done something really spontaneous that ended up defining your life in an important way? What does that famous photo evoke for you? What wild and spontaneous shenanigans will you pursue this weekend?:)
July 9th, 2010 at 5:28 am
I was saddened when I heard that she’d died, but like you, I hope she had a lot of exciting moments like these in her life. Thanks for the reminder to have a little spontaneous fun this weekend.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:33 am
Definitively Life in Pencil, indeed. Maybe someday a sailor will kiss me like that. If so, hopefully my husband won’t mind…
July 10th, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Oh I like this post a lot. The moment captured in this photo is a part of life that is so delightful to experience from time to time. Yay for living life in pencil! If only this happened for me more often…perhaps that is why your blog is so enjoyable – it encourages us to let these happen more often!