We live up a long, dusty dirt road on the side of a mountain. It's difficult for our friends to come see us. And, mostly, they don't come see us. In our "neighborhood," we live with a tacit agreement that we don't visit each other's houses for coffee, but we will come in a hurry if there is an emergency. We like it this way.

Corinne and I each enjoy the solitude, the pleasure of each other's company and the peace of the quiet countryside.

When a caring neighbor (who had never before visited) offered to provide any type of care-giving services, Corinne surprised me by adamantly refusing. She insisted on continuing to live our lives alone, together. And we have done that.

Corinne says that she just can't bear to accept that she's so sick she needs such help. She did move here to become a cowboy, remember.