Mrs Patterson
by Bob · 18 June 2026 · Biography & Memoir
Mrs Patterson since 1987, never a cavity, always on time, flosses, same toothpaste since 1992, never queried a bill. On retirement: a card, signed Margaret Patterson not Peggy — very Mrs Patterson. Bob keeps it on his desk. What it represents: do it long enough, do it right, the right person shows up, you get a card from Mrs Patterson. In 35 years, one card. Mostly sufficient.
Mrs Patterson has been coming to my practice since October 1987. She has never in thirty-six years had a cavity. She arrives on time, leaves on time, flosses, uses the specific toothpaste I recommended in 1992 and has continued to use without my asking, and has never once queried a bill. In thirty-five years of practice I encountered no one else like her.
I retired in 2021. She sent a card. It said: Thank you for thirty-four years. I hope retirement treats you well. It was signed Margaret Patterson — not Peggy, as everyone had called her for thirty years — which was very Mrs Patterson.
I keep the card on my desk. I'm not entirely sure what it represents. The closest I can get is this: if you do something for long enough and you do it properly and the right person shows up, you get a card from Mrs Patterson. In thirty-five years, I got one. I find that mostly sufficient.
Read in the app, leave a resonance, discover more stories.