Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/763593
64 nJanuary 2017n www.thunderpress.net THUNDER PRESS Where Am I? e "Where Am I?" game is for all THUNDER PRESS readers, what ever part of the country you hail from. Off ered each month is a set of clues within a riddle, and from those clues your job is to guess where our wandering reporter (and riddlemeister) Susan might be. Lo cations chosen are always in the Western U.S. or Canada. How does it work? e clues can be solved either by personal familiarity with the location, with the aid of a map, or by using the Inter net. When a clue is particularly important, and/or somewhat vague, we o en italicize that trickier portion to make sure your attention is drawn there. Where/when/what do I win? Very important: Do not e-mail your guess until the 8th of the month, so every one in our circulation area has a chance to get a copy of the paper. en on the 8th e-mail Susan at susan@tohonor.org and if you're the fi h correct e-mail you win. (Note: If there's no phone number in your e-mail where I can call you, your e-mail will not arrive fi h. Some law of physics or something…) Winners are profi led and pictured in the following issue. Good luck. Last month's mystery location: Hamilton, Montana I'm sure Cleopatra has never been here But the turf still bears her name The hilly perch where this town sits Once boasted copper mining as its claim to fame Overlooking the vast Verde Valley Sitting 5,000 feet above If you like scenic vistas This wicked town is a place you'll love A ghost walk is held in September A museum and historical society are pretty neat There are galleries, eateries and watering holes And they're all there on the main street So tell me, Where am I? WHERE AM I? WINNER MIKE BROWNSTEIN Away from it all Mike Brownstein of Sedona, Arizona, has a pretty great life by most any standard. His home is occupied by two companionable dachshunds— wiener dogs for those (like me) who'd need to Google the spelling. A Himalayan Persian cat and a lovely and accomplished wife are among his fellow creatures-in-comfort. From May to September Mike heats the water in his swimming pool, taking in the refl ection of the red rock landscape of Sedona on the infi nity edge, enjoying a swim daily during those months and hiking year-round. Homes near his own are scarcely seen, trees concealing any architecture and the placement well apart so as not to dominate the landscape. It's a beautiful place, a nice reward for a life of duty to his profes- sion, his patients and to family. Mike retired in late 2012 after nearly four decades as a plastic sur- geon. The specialty he devoted his career to is one for which he might be called a pioneer, although he'd speak more humbly of it. "It was fascinating work, and technically challenging" he said. And with so many years in practice in San Francisco, his specialty "kept me interested." Mike explained that he began doing transgender sur- gery "when it wasn't yet well accepted and little known of" and spoke of his patients with obvious respect. In an article from his Chicago alma mater he said his patients hoped that surgery would "bring their physical body in line with their gender." The article further explained that initially his col- leagues frowned upon his choice, but he felt those sentiments came from a place of misunderstanding. Eventually those same professionals came to realize that Mike was addressing an unmet need. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1941, Mike was raised and schooled in Chicago, Illinois. His career path would require a great deal more edu- cation, beginning with medical school at the University of Chicago and followed by postgraduate training in Albuquerque, Los Angeles, and then San Francisco. For some years he had a log home 60 miles north of Missoula in the Mission Valley where he and the family sat on a nice piece of ground. Relocation to the West Coast would fi nd him leaving the 200 acres and his marriage behind, but taking his good memories on the road west. Two sons, Clark and Josh, would also fi nd favor on the West Coast and today Clark, 50, is a Marin County contractor and his junior of seven years, Josh, is an attor- ney in the Bay area. Mike also has a brother in the hills outside Cashmere, Washington. After relocating to California, Mike realized the fi ve- or six-lane (each way) Interstate commute wouldn't be as satisfying to navigate on two wheels as Montana had been. He began to think, "This is crazy," so he gave his belt-drive Harley, a Low Rider FXB, to his youngest son Josh. Mike would set aside riding until his situation changed. It would be a while, requiring the beauty of his Arizona surroundings to rekindle the desire to ride. In the 70's, 80's and 90's Mike rode regularly and owned several bikes along life's way, including a cold-blooded kick-start Sportster. These same years found Mike riding America's roads, crossing the country, with stops at Sturgis, Nashville and points between. In all that road time, he said, "I never wore a helmet, except in states where there was a helmet law." While in medical residency in See "Where am I," page 71, column 1