The Rest of Me

Richard Patterson looks back at his life in The Rest of Me. His mother, Irene, endured and overcame an incredible hardscrabble existence. Growing up in Oklahoma, she and her family were thought of as hillbillies and called "white trash." His father, William Oliver, grew up in Arkansas and Oklahoma and was on his own by age eleven. In this memoir, the author also traces his own upbringing in Norwalk, California. He looks back at the highlights of his life, including how in the span of only one week, he suffered four near-death episodes as a boy while visiting family in New Mexico. From his first job delivering newspapers at age thirteen to life in junior college, when life became more serious, he recalls a lifetime of hard work and how he entered dentistry. He also remembers the fateful day he met the love of his life, Janie, and how they raised a family. Join the author as he looks back at key events in this tale that emphasizes the importance of family and following your heart.