Solace In Laguna Niguel Rainbows: Coronavirus Moment Of Zen

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — Without the rain, there would be no rainbows. That thought echoed in one Laguna Niguel woman's head as she ran through her neighborhood in recent weeks. Deb Franko is taking the time during the new coronavirus shutdown to do some self-care. Part of that is running every day.

The streets are different in these days of the COVID-19 shutdown. Fewer people closed swimming pools and parks.

"It's eerie," she tells us. Still, the sight of this rainbow was too beautiful to keep to herself. The padlock on the community pool has kept residents out, she says, and now it has turned into a sanctuary for a pair of ducks.

"I saw one of my neighbors walking her dogs this morning, and we had a brief conversation from about 10 feet away from each other," she says. Thus, the new norm for talking with friends, neighbors, strangers, and anyone not in our immediate family circle. Franko voiced what many have felt: social distancing is at odds with social norms.

"It feels a little sad to not be 'neighborly' in the same way that we were doing just a few weeks ago," she says. "We all understand the gravity of the pandemic, and are doing our part to slow the virus."

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Like the rest of Orange County, California, the nation, and the world, social distancing is something that we have to force into a regular habit.

"We'll get through this together," Franko says, and Patch agrees.

We all share the same sky, and rainbows are for everyone.

Do you have a story you'd like to share? Send your photo of what life looks like in your hometown to your Patch editor and tell us a little bit about how you are getting through the coronavirus shutdown.

Let your Patch Editor know by emailing: ashley.ludwig@patch.com

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