sometimes we come across or just pass by billboards, pictures, photos often without knowing their background stories or without even bother ourselves to understand the message they would like to deliver.
The picture of the "world's most famous kiss", it has been a while I've seen a version of it live but last night I dreamed about it again, so I decided to catch up a little bit with a story and the picture itself as well. And why not sharing it with you?
Alfred Eisenstaedt took this photo for LIFE magazine on 14th August, 1945 in the Time Square, New York City. This image captured one of the most epic moments in U.S. history - a sailor locked in a passionate kiss with a nurse in the Times Square at the end of World War II (at least the involvement of the United States).
The story is, that the couple did not know each other back then, so it is not a "welcome home kiss" from a lady to her man after returning from the war. On 14th August, George Mendonsa was in town with his date (future wife) when the news claimed that the Japanese had surrendered. World War II had finally come to the end. Everyone started to celebrate, grabbed a few drinks, etc, so did George. After he spotted a woman in a nurse's uniform, left his date behind, ran to grab the nurse and suddenly kissed her. Decades later, in his interview to CBS, he said that it was because of the excitement of the end of the war and the drinks he had before, of course. :) The lady, Greta Zimmer Friedman, she did not even see him approaching her. She remembers clearly when he grabbed her, she said that he was a very strong man! They did not know they were photographed by the way! LIFE launched a bid in 1980 to identify the couple because of the huge interest from their readers. Everyone wanted to know the story behind that epic moment and one of the most passionate kisses ever photographed.
I think, the most interesting thing about this picture is the expression of the passion, the happiness and excitement at the same time. As they were two complete strangers, it was not about love, it was about a moment. A moment of youth, happiness and freedom. Feelings we are so desperately searching for in our entire lives. Feelings which we are fighting for against governments, financial crisis, divorces, losses, daily problems. Freedom from wars, credits, loans, non-working relationships.. this moment captured on this photo is rarely found in our world anymore. And it should be. Because on spot, when something good happens, we should accept is with arms wide open and we should feel happiness and forget about all the rest we have to deal with every day. Being free, happy, careless for one passionate moment.
George is married to Rita, the girl he went on a first date with, on that day, for 66 years now. A lot of people asked Rita's opinion about the action George took with an unknown lady. She said, 'it was a happy day, I was grinning like an idiot. The kiss really didn't bother me at all. If I had been engaged, maybe.' However she added: "In all these years, George has never kissed me like that.' (Rita can actually be seen in the picture above George's right shoulder!)
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-33816_162-57491471/sailor-nurse-from-iconic-vj-day-photo-reunited/
I realized that within our microenvironment, great stories are surrounding us and for such a hopeless romantic person like I am, it is always nice to look a little bit behind the scenes. And maybe you find a story just like I told you above. The picture of the "famous kiss" has become a part of me, a memory that I'm going to carry throughout my life. A memory of being in love, being young, free and happy. A memory of not being afraid or aware of the possibility of losing someone forever.
P.S. I wrote the blog in English this time, as the story being a true American one I felt like using the original words of telling it to you this time :) Peace.
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