Best to stay current

I knew someone who said her dentist liked to get to know his patients.  He kept a file of index cards on each patient; on each card, he wrote one non-dental fact about the patient's interests.  That's a good idea--except that, according to one patient, he never updated the cards.  During her first visit, the dentist asked her, "What's an interest or pursuit of yours these days?"  She answered, "I've considered joining the Peace Corps."  He wrote that on her index card, and at the beginning of each appointment for years, he would always ask her, "So, still thinking about joining the Peace Corps?"  Her mother, who was also a patient, told the dentist she liked watching old movies at a local theater.  For years afterward, the dentist would begin each appointment by saying, "I hear Casablanca (or another old movie) is playing at The Plaza."  If taken to extremes, I could see how failing to update the index cards, especially for patients who go many years without seeing the dentist, would make some appointments awkward. (i.e. "So, have your kids all made the transition from crawling to walking yet?  I know you enjoy charting their progress."  "Um, yes.  They've been walking for many years now.  In fact, they're all pursuing their master's degrees.")