Couldn't you or Mary just do three quick patterns (full-stop) and be legal
to fly at night?

Sure, but that would be terribly impractical.

It was rapidly approaching dusk, with no known end to our delay. To get
night current means waiting until complete darkness, and doing 3 landings.
This would have meant either waiting until legal darkness in Des Moines, or
stopping somewhere along the way home.

With the kids along, neither choice was good. In practice, we probably
would have just stayed the night, rather than screwing around with it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"