We have lived in Toluca Lake for almost two years, and quickly fell in love with this idyllic community. It is unlike any other; it truly feels like a hidden gem. But the best part is the sense of community. We have never experienced such lovely neighbors who truly care about one another, and we have been privileged to experience the magic of the holidays here, the joy of walking the neighborhood, the fun of our local events and the fact that we can safely walk to have dinner or a drink at our favorite local restaurants.
We are taking the current situation one day at time, and embracing any positives we can identify in such a surreal time. My husband and I both work locally — I’m at Disney and he’s at Deluxe Entertainment, so we have been keeping busy with our new remote work routines, enjoying our daily neighborhood walks, having time to make a craft cocktail, cooking some of our favorite recipes and ordering takeout to support our local restaurants. The hardest thing has been the reality of distancing from our loved ones, our community of friends and our work family. This situation can feel isolating, but we have been embracing the opportunity to connect with our friends and family digitally as much as possible. We successfully taught my 85-year-old grandparents how to FaceTime!
It has been heartening to see our community rallying to support one another during this time — we stay connected through local social media channels and by following local businesses to see how we can support them. Our daily walks have made us feel incredibly connected, too, and as we pass our neighbors (from a safe social distance!) we all check in on each other and offer words of encouragement. The strength of this community gives me hope that we will come out safely on the other side of this crisis.
We are all here for each other. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your neighbors, don’t stop smiling on your daily walks, and remember, we will get through this and enjoy our beautiful community together once again.
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