Since I enjoy dressing up in costumes, I look forward to Gaper Day every year.
But, Gaper Day isn’t a specific skier or snowboarder holiday. Gapers begin to appear on the ski slopes over spring break in March — a few hardy snowboarders in shorts, women in tutus, and barechested guys impervious to the cold temperatures who ride down the mountain. Gaper sightings surge on April Fools’ Day and explode during Spring Splash parties and the ski resorts’ closing weekends.
On April Fools’ Day, my son Kelly and his fiancé, Leksy, wore Danny’s 1980s ski gear. Danny wore dreads and a fur vest. I donned my pink wig and wings, which came in handy. We headed for Beaver Creek Ski Resort.
It snowed eight inches, and the intense Colorado sunshine warmed the air. We took a few photos at the top.
The heavy snow proved challenging as I started down our first run. I had to work for my turns.
As I skied down the mountain, my knee tweaked. A nasty tweak. The kind of painful tweak that made me wonder if I would be able to put weight on it by the time I arrived at the chairlift.
This is the same stupid knee I’ve been rehabbing all year. Instead of firing up the pinched meniscus or the medial collateral sprain, the tendon above my knee cap overstretched. Why?
I took a selfie in case I had to quit.
So I did what any Wild Rider would do.
I swore at my stupid knee. I informed my stupid knee that I was done with its stupid frailties and endless complaints. My stupid knee would have to suck it up. I planned to ski the whole day.
And I did!
It wasn’t even stiff the next day. I must have scared my stupid knee into healing.
I’m adding cussing out my body parts to my physical therapy sessions.
Of course, the wings helped too.
OR, did my stupid knee play an April Fools joke on me? Hmmm…
Are you a costume person? An April Fools prankster? Are you going outdoors more often now that it’s spring, or is it fall where you live?
Gaper Days from the past:
How to Be a Gaper – A Photo Essay
Gapers Cheat Summer! Another Wild Photo Adventure
Susie Lindau's Wild Ride 
You guys are a HOOT and ALWAYS UP FOR SOME FUN & MISCHIEF – ha! – love it! I have to say the 80’s snow gear is the best with the loud colors. Give that knee a proper talking to – amazing how resilient and how fragile knees can be at times. Here’s to Wild Riding – Enjoy 🙂
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Hey Renee!
Yes! Gaper Day(s) are always fun. What happened to my knee was super weird. I’ve never experienced pain like that before where it went away. No complaints here! 🤣
I’ve been off the grid for a while so thanks for stopping by! 😎
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keep on the trail susie, amen
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That’s the plan, BW! Thank you. 😎
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I hadn’t heard of Gapers or Gaper’s Day, but it sounds like a fun tradition. I’m glad your knee wasn’t damaged Susie.
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Me too!
It’s a fun tradition. Next year, I plan to invest in a tutu! It’s about dang time. 🤣
Thanks for stopping by!
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I’m glad your knee behaved after you gave it a talking to. You look adorable and I’m sure the wings helped.
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They did! Thanks, Darlene! LOL!
I have some catching up to do. 😎
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Lots of fun (except for the knee thing). I hope it doesn’t give you more trouble now, for having forced it to co-operate.
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That’s the weirdest thing! It’s better since I forced to bend to 15 degrees. LOL!
Great to “see” you. I have to catch up!
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Yes, it’s nice to see you on here again. Maybe you did the right thing by keeping moving with that knee.
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Thank you!
I’m tired of setbacks. Pushing through must have loosened it up!
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I hope it continues to work for you.
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Me too! Thanks! I’m at PT right now. 😆
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I expect that across the country right now there are hundreds of orthopedic surgeons crying in their beers over new miracle cure. Rock on Susie!
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LOLOLOL! My knee was shocked! 😳
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I’m glad you had a good time and your knee decided to behave itself. Thanks for sharing Gaper’s Day.
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Thank you, John! Great to see you. It was a blast after I told off my stupid knee. 😂🤣
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Yes. You were lucky it listened
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About dang time! LOL!
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😁
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Love the way you write up these adventures! My wife and I used the pandemic as our motivation to get outdoors, away from people, and into nature – with our first-ever hiking adventures at Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park and a few others as well!
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Thank you, John! 🤣
I’m glad you took advantage of the outdoors! I checked out a few of your posts and would love to hike there someday. They are on my bucket list!
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Zion is a word that actually covers SO many different places to explore…we plan to go back again in the fall…of course, summer is way too hot!
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Once upon a time I was a prankster but not so much lately. I try not to scare my knees … they’re too old; they’d probably have a heart attack!
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Well, since my husband just had knee surgery for a torn meniscus, I can say that he healed pretty darn fast. He’s a runner and his doctor told him he would start using the elliptical machine just 3 days post surgery but hold off on running for 6 weeks. He only had 3 physical therapy sessions and now he’s back to normal. (Except the running.) Knees are weird. Some take forever to heal and others bounce back right away. I say, listen to you own body and do what’s right for you.
That said, cussing out body parts has been somewhat effective for me as well. I don’t know what it works, but it sometimes does.
Glad you were able to costume up and enjoy the day!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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I’m glad your husband healed up so fast! I’ve been messing with this one for a while and feel as though biking — what my PT wants me to avoid — is exactly what it needs. Funny. I drove an hour to my appointment today and there was a screw up on their end. At first, I rescheduled for next week but cancelled when I got home. Maybe the Universe intervened! If I hear any squawking from my knee while I bike, I’ll be sure to cuss it out!
Thanks Patricia! It’s good to see you after my blogging hiatus. 😎
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Mind over matter. 😉
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EXACTLY!!
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Delete avast mobile security. Please could you help me out today fix it
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