Adventures in Chemotherapy, Part 1 -- I Hardly Recognize Myself

I approached him at a get-together for a local nonprofit earlier this week.

I hadn't seen him in several months.

We served on a community board together a few years ago and have always greeted each other and chit-chatted when our paths have crossed since then.

The other night when I approached, he looked deeply into my eyes and said, "You look familiar to me but I'm having trouble placing you."

"Ann Erdman," I said, smiling. 

He was embarrassed. He hadn't recognized me in the hat that covered my bald head, the bare skin where eyebrows used to be, the look of fatigue on my face, my body a little stooped from bone and back pain.

"That's OK," I said. "I do look different. I barely recognize myself anymore!"

And then we chit-chatted just like old times.

Looking for Something To Do? Free Events September 19 to 25

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Sept. 19, to Friday, Sept. 25.

All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare say there's nothing to do in Pasadena!  

An emergency preparedness fair Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at McDonald Park will help you learn how your neighborhood and your household can be prepared for major earthquakes and other disasters. Sign up for special training, see related demonstrations, get emergency supplies and much more. Hosted by the Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association, the fair is open to everyone in Pasadena!

Exploring New Roads is a special fair Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. inside and outside Central Library featuring displays of electric vehicles by Tesla, Chevy, BMW and Prius as well as presentations, videos, exhibits, children's activities and more, all related to the new boom in electric vehicle technology.

Taylor Mathews will perform acoustic, funk and pop Saturday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado.  

Dubbed "Ghana's Bob Marley," Rocky Dawuni will perform reggae Saturday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. -- the final summer concert at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.    

Meet taiko drumming group Kodama Taiko Sunday, Sept. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute, see them perform and then try some drumming yourself (they'll show you how).  

An LA Opera community educator will take visitors through Jake Heggie's modern classic Moby Dick Monday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. Based on the Herman Melville novel, whaling ship Captain Ahab's relentless obsession with revenge against a rare white whale puts his crew in mortal danger. You do not have to a be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

The Italian Job (1969, G) starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward will be shown on the big screen Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A team of career criminals attempt to pull off the biggest gold heist in history right under the noses of the Italian police and the Mafia.

Local author Roberta Martinez will present Pasadena: At the Corner of San Pasqual and Bandini Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library featuring stories about the famed Elliott and Bandini families, the Greene Brothers, Father Throop and the roots of Caltech plus a Nobel prize winner or two.

Frozen (2013, PG) with the voice talents of Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel will be shown Friday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. (or when it gets dark) in the courtyard at One Colorado. When a queen uses her powers to turn everything into ice, her sister teams up with a mountain man, his reindeer and a snowman to change the weather.

Photo credits: Tesla Motors, Taylor Mathews, Glen Wilson, Rafu Shimpo, Calgary Opera, Brian's Film Review Blog, Pasadena Weekly, The Gamble House, Walt Disney Pictures

Looking for Something To Do? Free Events Sept. 12 to 18

Here are events scheduled Saturday, Sept. 12, to Friday, Sept. 18.

All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare say there's nothing to do in Pasadena!  

Raquel Rodriguez will perform saucy soul Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado.

Avatar (2009, PG-13) starring Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana will be shown on the big screen Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. on the roof of the parking structure at 55 S. Lake Ave. A paraplegic U.S. Marine sent on a mission to the moon Pandora becomes torn between following orders and protecting the world he feels is his home. Come as early as 6 p.m. for deejay music and more and be sure to bring a beach chair. This event is hosted by the South Lake Business Association, and reservations/tickets are required.

Quetzal will perform East L.A. rock Saturday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.   

Admission to the USC Pacific Asia Museum is free the second Sunday of every month. On Sunday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. enjoy a spotlight on Mongolia with tours, art activities, performances and more.
 

Louie Cruz Beltran will perform Afro Cuban and Latin jazz Sunday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.  

Revenge of the Electric Car (2011, PG-13) will be shown on the big screen Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. The documentary takes viewers behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM and Tesla Motors to chronicle the global resurgence of electric cars.

Celebrate Constitution Day with the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution Thursday, Sept. 17, at 1 p.m. at Central Library as they ring bells to celebrate Bells Across America, a national commemoration started in 1987. From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. get a free pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution, see a special display and more.

Children are invited to learn the special art of eye patches, hook hands and sword making Thursday, Sept. 17, at 4 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library, then sail through the seven seas in search of treasure!

Admission to the Pasadena Museum of California Art is free the third Thursday (and first Friday) of every month. On Thursday, Sept. 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. enjoy the current exhibitions and everything else the museum has to offer.

The Music Man (1962, NR) starring Robert Preston and Shirley Jones will be shown on the big screen Friday, Sept. 18, at 1 p.m. at the Pasadena Senior Center. Harold Hill descends on River City, Iowa, with the intent of conning townspeople into the concept of forming a marching band. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971, G) starring Gene Wilder and Peter Ostrum will be shown Friday, Sept. 18, at 7:30 p.m. (or when it gets dark) in the courtyard at One Colorado. An impoverished boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all.

SAVE THE DATE! 

Exploring New Roads is a special fair Saturday, Sept. 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. inside and outside Central Library featuring displays of electric vehicles by Tesla, Chevy, BMW and Prius as well as presentations, videos, exhibits, children's activities and more, all related to the new boom in electric vehicle technology.

Photo credits: TicketFly, Look Me5, Quetzal, Ruth Ozeki's Web World, Papercut Films, Legal Solutions Blog, Around You, Quick and Dirty Tips,   Paramount Pictures.