In 1965, Lenny and I were married in front of a justice of the peace at City Hall in New York. I wore a pretty, simple little dress. After the ceremony, we went out for Chinese food with his best man, Al Moldovan, and my best friend, Leah Schaefer, who introduced me to Lenny and has remained a friend forever. She made a very funny crack while we were eating that I've never forgotten: "The problem with going out for a Chinese meal after you get married is that you want to get married again."
I knew that I'd made a wise choice marrying dependable, sweet, thoughtful, wildly intelligent Dr. Leonard Gordon, who I knew would never betray me. He would protect me even if it meant throwing himself in front of a car for me. Ohl How did I ever get so lucky!
When I first told my mother that I was going to marry a Jewish man: she had a little trouble adjusting, despite being impressed that he was a doctor. The very first time she opened the door to him, she said, "Are joo a Yew?" .
Poor Lenny said, "What?"
"A Yew, are joo a Yew?" she said.
And the poor man was so confused, he said, "Jes, I am!"
Rita Moreno " Rita Moreno" (2012)
