Marlene grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. She moved north to MN about 25 years ago with her three children. Her son recently moved to Indianapolis, and she hopes to follow him there in the next few years, especially since a warmer climate might suit her better due to her Raynaud’s disease, which makes her sensitive to the cold. For now, she plans to remain in Minnesota a little while longer.

Marlene lives independently and recently moved into a new place in December. Although a foot injury has slowed her down and made getting out more difficult than she’d like, she does her best to stay active. She runs her own errands and enjoys walking when she can. Reading used to be a favorite pastime, but the focus needed to get through books has become more challenging to find. Her therapist encourages her to get out more, and she’s taking things at her own pace, doing what she can. She doesn’t watch television and instead values quiet routines, reflection, and faith, grounding her days with morning and evening prayers.

When it comes to connecting with a new friend over the phone, she would enjoy talking about what’s happening in the world—focusing on meaningful or uplifting topics rather than constant bad news. She finds joy in sharing stories about her grandchildren and would especially enjoy talking with someone who has children or grandchildren too, so they can relate and swap experiences. Conversations about books, faith, and life reflections interest her, and she’s even curious about someday starting her own personal webpage or journal to capture her thoughts.