Interview with a Retired Senior

Interview of a Retired Senior

Julie Teetz

02/28/14

Community Health

Dr. Havens

For my interview of a retired senior I chose to interview my grandfather, Lonnie Ligon. Lonnie is seventy-seven years old. He retired in nineteen ninety-seven from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Before working for the Federal Aviation Administration, Lonnie was in Air Traffic Control in the Air Force. While in the Air Force he lived in Cold Bay, and Sitka Alaska. He also live in Panama near the Panama Canal.

My grandfather has a really interesting sense of humor and when I asked him the questions for this interview he gave me two sets of answers. One set where he was being funny and one set where he was being serious.

When I asked him “What are your greatest joys during retirement?” he replied first with “Remembering my name, The discovery of Viagra, Remembering where I live, Getting both socks to match, and Not putting my undershorts on backwards.” His second and serious response was “Having my family around me and watching them grow up. Enjoying leisure time with my family.”

When I asked him “What are your greatest needs during retirement?” he first replied “Being able to find the nearest bathrooms, Having zippers that don’t stick, Clothes that fit, Not stubbing my toe, Remembering where I parked my car, Not getting my vitamins confused with my laxatives, Making sure the bungee cord doesn’t go all the way to the ground, and Remembering that Preparation H is NOT a throat lozenge.” He then said “Being needed, recognized, and helpful to my friends and family.”

When I asked him “How have your healthcare needs changed during retirement?” his first response was “Is there