A Heinz 57 bottle, a 1957 Chevy BelAir, and a Jewish fable provide multiple metaphors for marriage. The first two proclaim the magic number 57, the number of years we have been married. August 5, 1967–August 5, 2024 which equates to our anniversary milestone this year.
It strikes me that the Heinz 57 jar offers some descriptors for a good match: spicy, squeezable, and zesty.
The fire red 1957 Chevrolet BelAir contributes some more attributes applicable to a good marriage: spacious, rare, valuable, with a strong engine to go the distance.
This Jewish fable describes three successive levels of peace and comfort found in a happy marriage.
Our Anniversary Meditation
Father God, we thank you for the river which flows with your provision: a roof over our heads, food enough and to share, wheels to take us places, a family to love. We express gratitude this day for the abundance of the river, where we share our personalities and values.
Heavenly Father, thank you that our relationship allows each of us to exhibit opposite traits at times: cool and composed, complementing another’s hot and expressive nature. Like the kettle, may the water in the kettle serve to temper the fire of the stove’s burner and provide balance in our relationship.
And finally, dear God, grant us the finesse of the bird, able to walk on earth and to fly. Like the heron, may we blend both our abilities and ambitions as we cultivate the spiritual side of our relationship. Grant us joy at home, abiding peace which radiates Shekinah, your divine presence in our home.
© marianbeaman
Soup-eating husband Cliff offers another analogy about marriage.
Asia Wong, author Ada Calhoun’s therapist, offers sage advice to newlyweds—to old marrieds as well: “ . . . You need to figure out how to build sway into a marriage, the way you do into the foundation of a building. She [Asia] says that just as a tall building or bridge without room to expand or contract, to move in stiff winds, falls down, so a marriage that’s too rigid crumbles at the first tremor.” (quoted from “Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give”)
Quote from My Checkered Life: A Marriage Memoir, Chapter 15 “Our Honeymoon and Camping in the Smokies
What metaphors or images can you add to describe any close relationship, including marriage?
Happy Anniversary to both of you! Well done. I loved Cliff’s video the best. I truly believe a sense of humour is a vital part of a successful marriage.
Darlene, I remember you saying that about you and your husband during Covid, and it’s so true today: A sense of humor is indispensable. Thanks for commenting from Spain! 😀
😊
Good morning, Marian! Happy 57th Anniversary to you both–and many more! 💙
Thank you, Merril! 😀
You’re welcome, Marian! 😊
Hi,
I’m going to wish you a happy 57th Anniversary before August 5th. Thank you for showing the Mosel River. The city of Koblenz shows this river off beautifully. The devotion that each of you put into this post is evidence of the way you are living your marriage. It shows God’s faithfulness to you both. So I will close with the following true statement that I believe has followed you both through the years:
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is his faithfulness to you and Cliff. (I changed the wording a little in the last line to fit the occasion.)
Sending you hugs out of Europe.
Shalom shalom
Thank you for tailoring the passage from Lamentations 3 to us. I love reading it because it fits any life situation.
I’ve never seen the Mosel River although I’ve seen the Rhine. I wonder if the Mosel is as blue as depicted here. (Maybe just a photoshop trick–haha!)
It’s bed time in Germany. May you rest in the everlasting arms, Pat. 😀
Marian! Love the analogies (especially Cliff’s 😊—that soup looks delicious by the way). Such a creative post! So full of wonderful wisdom. Happy upcoming anniversary to you!
The soup was zuppa toscana at Olive Garden several years ago–always a hit, even in summertime.
Thanks for your kind words, L. Marie! 😀
Hi Marian, this is a lovely post with all sorts of fun and interesting information.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Robbie. Thank you! 😀
Happy Anniversary! You and Cliff are a wonderful couple. Such a good example of a happy Christian marriage. Love you.
Collie
Collie, you are the only commenter here who’s known both of us for over 55 years. Thanks for your sweet reply! 😀
Congratulations, Marian and Cliff. I hope you enjoy your anniversary celebrations (do they involve good soup?) and can celebrate many more. Your anecdotes are spot on! 🙂
Thanks for the good wishes, Liesbet.
I think we are leaning toward Asian food for our anniversary. Maybe miso soup or Tom Yum to start. Who knows? I wonder if you are still enjoying Belgian cuisine. 😀
Marian, thank you for this amazing blog post! You are so creative! I love all the different analogies of what a good marriage looks like. I don’t think I realized what a good marriage we had until Hardy passed away. Like the Rabbi says, it was the spiritual component that was the glue!
Yes, Elfrieda, the spiritual component is the glue.
When I publish posts like this, I cringe a little because I am well aware that readers who’ve lost their mates are in the audience. We too recognize the brevity of life, both in our eighties now.
Thanks for your kind comment. 😀
I often think of marriage as a journey, both of self-discovery and discovery about the other. There are pot holes and mountain tops, memories good and bad. Learning together, the road gets easier even when the path does not. BUT you have to choose to stay on the path together. And all roads must keep God firmly in view. Three is an unbreakable bond.
What a profound thought, Jenn: “The road gets easier even when the path does not.” I’ll have to think about that a while.
I do agree, three is an unbreakable bond. Thanks for commenting! 😀
Ah, so sweet. My favorites are the video of Cliff and the metaphor of marriage and Heinz 57. While it’s not always smooth sailing, a strong foundation weathers any storm. Congratulations not just on the length but on the quality of your marriage. 38 years for us on Friday. We’re going to a winery to listen to some music by a Beatles cover band.
I just read and commented on your family reunion post. What fun!
Congratulations on 38 years for you and Debbie. Your anniversary plans sound swell, Pete. 😀
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY a few days early to you and Cliff. I liked the two videos, but truly, Cliff’s was best. 🙂 57 years is such a sweet and joyful accomplishment. However, when I first read Heinz 57 I thought of the phrase that some people say about their dog’s breed “Oh, he’s a Heinz 57,” meaning of uncertain ancestry. But Heinz (the ketchup guy) meant it as a sign of authenticity and timelessness. That matches your marriage, and many long-term marriages, perfectly. My guy and I just celebrated our 40th. But the number means nothing. It’s the day-to-day love, gliding on that river together, bending and swaying with life’s challenges, that’s what that number means. <3
Congratulations on your 40th anniversary, symbolized I think by a ruby. (Think passion, loyalty and devotion which you definitely have.)
I agree, the number means nothing–gliding on that river together, and as you say, “bending and swaying with life’s challenges.” Thanks for such an exuberant reply, Pam! 😀
<3
Happy anniversary to you and Cliff! What a fun, lovely, and profound blog you’ve written. And the photo of the Mosel was a cherry-on-the-top, reminding me of a wonderful trip my (also dear) husband and I took a few years ago.
I’ve never seen the Mosel except in photos, but we enjoyed a Rhine cruise when we visited Germany years ago. I’m glad this post resonated with you Linda! 😀
Happy Anniversary to you and Cliff! This was such an uplifting post, from beginning to end.
Thanks for chiming in, Liz, always appreciated! 😀
Congratulations to you both on such a long and happy marriage. And I wish you many more years of happiness together. 🎉🎊
Thank you, Fatima. And I wish the same for you and Peter. 😀
Happy Anniversary!! You are a beautiful and inspiring couple. <3
Oops… that was supposed to be a heart.
I’ve made a heart that way more than once. No worries!
Thanks so much, Linda Lee! 😀
Lol, cute video of Cliff. I loved the Rabbi’s analogy of the kettle, bird and river. Happy almost Anniversary. <3
The Rabbi’s analogy appealed to me too because the kettle, bird and river are so disparate–but so apt too. Thanks for the good wishes, Debby. 😀
Congratulations. I like how you and a condiment have a connection. Metaphorical marital advice? Two peas in a pod, comes to mind. Kind of a cozy image!
“Two peas in a pod” sounds perfect, Ally! Thank you. 😀
Happy 57th (almost) Marian! You laid out so many creative analogies to success within a marriage. You are very clever and they all are true. 🙂 Boy, I love the analogy of building sway into a marriage like architects do with tall buildings. It’s just such an excellent visual and I’m going to take that with me.
Thank you, Melanie. I am always pleased when readers pick out one special thing to remember. Yes, we have to build “sway” into our marriages, but also into life in general: Like today, something I was counting on went away, so I have to adjust–not always easy. 😀
Happy Anniversary to you and Cliff; may you have many more. We just celebrated our 46th.
Happy 46th anniversary, Sarah. That’s quite a milestone too! 😀
Well done, to my almost 57th anniversary and creative wife Marian. She loves putting all of the pieces (author’s quotes, interesting images, researching all kinds of themes) to put her Plain and Fancy Blog puzzle together…because she <3s all of you readers! And your well-wishes for us both.
Thank you readers also for enjoying the short spur-of-the-moment video. Both of us especially enjoy the Zuppa Toscana soup with the salad at Olive Garden. I sometimes like to pick up a spoon and clink it against a glass, bowl or something else nearby. I’ve often thought about recording some of these sounds and digitizing them to midi and change the frequencies to scalable notes). That particular lunch when I tapped my spoon against the soup bowl–it told me to make a little video.
I'll try to work on my humor a little more!
No need to work on humor at all as long as I get a few laughs a day. Thanks for the echo here, highlighting your love of the sound of music. Hugs! ((( )))
These are wonderful, Marian. Happy 57th Anniversary to you and Cliff! I love your humor and insightful observations.
I’m glad you find humor and insight when you visit. Thank you, Barb! 😀
Congratulations on your 57 years together! I love the 57 Chevy. Red really works! This is a great post. I love the aspects of marriage and the metaphors you shared. That soup looks like Olive Garden soup!?
Thank you for the congratulations, Dwight. Cliff and I looked at your website and like the banner on your homepage. That ’57 Chevy is really hot stuff.
Yes, the soup is Olive Garden soup; you guessed it. Thanks for visiting and do come again! 😀
I’m late to the party, but enjoyed your thoughts on marriage. We were privileged to celebrate 50 years with family and friends in April. May you and Cliff have many more river, kettle and bird years together!
Ruthie, you are always on time here: I keep the porch light on 24/7!
Congratulations on your 50-year-milestone. That’s quite an accomplishment by any measure. Thanks for the good wishes too! 😀
Happy anniversary! My favorite photo of the red car is the one I saw the most 🙂 Its color, design, and overall look are very unique.