As I spent time at Retorno, I got hooked on the people, the realness. On the process going on around me and, soon, inside me,
I f you’ve ever volunteered anywhere you’ll understand exactly what I mean when I say that either you become a part of it or you don’t.
I did.
It started out as a simple barter between me and Rabbi Eitan Eckstein the director of Retorno a Jewish rehab center not far from my home. Every week I’d teach two hours of basketball and in return I’d go on a weekly trail ride. Three hours of my time each week. So simple.
But that very first week I knew I belonged there. By the second I was utterly completely hooked. Hooked on horses hooked on the calm they exude the rocking motion that’s part lullaby and part challenge. Hooked on the intense green of newly sprouting wheat the sweet smell of hay the flutter of birds’ wings as they lift off from the pond the tickle of gentle wind on my face.
As I started to spend more time at Retorno I got hooked on the people on the realness. On the process I saw going on around me and very soon inside me.
