I ’d just stepped onto Retorno’s basketball court when the skies opened. Rain came pouring down sending me running for cover. I called the staff of both the women’s and girls’ groups and they both decided to cancel basketball that week.
I trudged over to the ranch certain my weekly trail ride had also been canceled. Instead Yoram the ranch manager told me to wait ten minutes and see what happened.
Nine and a half minutes later the rain stopped the sun burst out from behind what had seemed like an interminable cloud and stable hands began grooming the horses.
“Stable hands” in Retorno refer to the crew of residents who work in the stables any given week. It’s a coveted job not only because the time spent doing physical activity is invigorating and not only because being around horses is calming but also because working in the stables greatly increases your chances of being told on the spur of the moment “Go grab a helmet you’re coming with us for a ride.”
