recreating the moment.

The infamous Times Square kiss has always fascinated me. 

In case you don't know the backstory, a sailor spontaneously dipped and kissed a nurse in the middle of the New York streets when President Truman announced the end of war on Japan. And the whole thing, obviously, was captured by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. It's such a joyful, spirited moment, so full of hope, and I just love the impulsive, spur-of-the-moment feel to it--the idea of a random kiss to celebrate the end of such a dark time.

The "Victory Kiss" image has special meaning for me, though, thanks to the commemorative statue located on the Port of San Diego. It was during my junior year of college that I first saw it, and needless to say, it elicited one of those hand-to-the-heart sort of sighs. Not to mention that San Diego, of course, is where Radley and I met--where our own little love story began.

So it was a must for me, for us, to recreate that moment in the middle of Times Square. And you can be sure that if it hadn't been less than forty degrees, I probably would have run out and bought a nurse's outfit. And possibly a sailor hat for Radley. (Maybe next time.)

*Read more about the San Diego commemorative sculpture and original photograph--including comments from the nurse who was kissed!--in this article from the Navy website.

(Photos: 1. My Flickr 2. LIFE Magazine 3. Jimcin)