One In A Million

Twelve years ago, I was at my first SfN meeting in Chicago. It was really a big thing. It was quite impressive to see millions of researchers and students from all the world, sharing scientific knowledge. One day, I was waiting for a coffee in a Starbucks, inside the McCormick Place, and then Eric Kandel came close to me and asked me if I knew where could he pick up this badge and all the stuff. 

I told him where to go and he walked away. I couldn't believe it. Although it was for the wrong reasons, a Nobel Prize and I spoke in my first meeting of SfN! What was the probability...? 

I was so naive, foolish, and romantic that I thought that talking to Eric Kandel was a sign for me to stop pursuing my dream of becoming a non fiction writer and to focus 24/7 on science. Twelve years later I have twelve published papers in peer review journals, but a week ago the head of department told me that they will not renew my contract and I wonder what have I done with my life.