I was at a work function, a dinner with other scientists. We were discussing something about a protein with which I work, something about if there were three arginines at the C-terminus. I couldn't remember if there were (and I felt I should know this information). Another scientist (someone visiting whom I didn't know) knew the answer and did some complicated calculation in his head to solve the problem. I was embarassed. I also felt like I was 'hooked' or physically connected to one of the scientists, like our belts had got tangled. We sat down for dinner but when I looked up from my plate everyone had left to another table. Some waiters came and told me I had to move because they were moving the table. I picked up my plate and carried it to a table with people I had attended high school with. One was Kevin Wetzel. He looked at me and said, "Welcome back to the gifted table." He looked different than I remembered. The girl/woman across from me was drawing my picture and/or taking notes on what I was doing. I didn't recognize her. I felt embarassed and relieved to be back at this table rather than the one with all the scientists.
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3 comments:
This just made me laugh. Nothing wrong with proteins, and it would be wonderful to know even what arginines and c-termini are, let alone how many there are of the one in the other -- I'm envious -- but being identified with that knowledge, as if that was really what was most important about you, would be a huge misrepresentation to walk around with!
Hi Dale,
Sorry for using so much jargon, I wanted to be exact about the dream. I often have dreams like this, where I am not measuring up. Thanks for your kinder and more gentle perspective. I am NOT my accomplishments. I am NOT what I know. I am NOT my profession. I am NOT my blog. :)
I think there was just enough jargon :-)
I only mind jargon when it's critical to understanding the gist of what I'm reading, and it's not explained. But the point here was that it's something arcane enough that general readers won't even have heard of it, but that specialists in proteins might at least aspire to know it off the top of their heads, right? If we'd understood it, the point would have been (at least partly) lost!
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