Chapter 31
I was in the midst of getting a divorce in 1972 when my good friend, comedian Marty Allen, and his wife, Frenchy, invited me to his birthday party.
They said, “You’ve got to bring a girl.”
I said, “Are you kidding? I’m through with women. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking of taking up with men.”
They laughed and said, “We’ve got a wonderful girl for you. We’re going to set you up on a blind date.”
I said, “Do you have to?”
They told me, “Yes.” They said I had to go pick up this lady who was in from Las Vegas and staying at one of the Beverly Hills hotels. I went over and evidently she was zigging while I was zagging, because we missed each other. I went back to Chasen’s, where they were having the party,
I said to Marty, “You see? As far as women are concerned I’m a dead man. I can’t even find my blind date.”
Marty said, “She’s coming by taxi. Everything will be fine.”
So I was sitting there with all the rest, enjoying the party, when in came this great-looking redhead. I remember thinking, Why can’t my date look like her?
Of course, it was her. We were introduced. Her name was Tova.
We found ourselves talking, she and I. We just kept talking and ignored everyone else at the party. It was like we’d known each other all our lives.
Finally, the party was over and I took her to her hotel and said good night. As I said good night I started to walk away and I said, “Oh, by the way…”
By that time she was already in the elevator. She stepped on the elevator operator’s toes and said, “Don’t you dare close that door yet.”
I said, “By the way…what?’”
She said, “You forgot to ask me out again.”
I laughed: “Jimmy Durante is having his fiftieth anniversary party over in Las Vegas and seeing as how you’re from Las Vegas, would you mind if I called on you?”
She said, “That would be wonderful.”
Later on, she admitted that she went back to her room and let out a whoop. She said she knew she had me hooked like a fish—and, I told her, I didn’t mind at all being caught.
I went to Las Vegas and I picked her up at her home. I met her stepdad and her mother, one of the greatest gals in the world. Her name was Aase. After I got to know her better, I called her pain in the Aase and she just adored it.
Tova and I went out that evening and we had a wonderful time. One thing led to another and, damn, the first thing you know we were going steady. The second thing you know I proposed marriage. That did it.
Here we are, thirty-five years later, and we’re still in love with each other. Oh, we’ve had our ups and downs, believe me, but she’s a patient lady and she knows how much I love her. It’s a mutual feeling of understanding and companionship. She’s also a real go-getter, having turned her ideas about skin care into a thriving business.
Tova’s son, David Johnson, has become a wonderful friend. I think of him as a son, as if he was my own. He’s a computer genius and a talented musician. He’s a wonderful guy.
Thanks, hon. Thanks for all of it!