BOO!

Yesterday I was working at the computer with my headphones on, listening to music. J came sneaking into the room, right up behind my left elbow -- and the first I knew about it was when she shouted "BOO!" I YELLED ("AAAAHHHHH!") as I jumped out of my chair and whirled around to face her, hands up in an attack position, eyes wide. Scared the you-know-what out of her -- not intentionally, but you know, millions of years of evolution are hard to overcome in a split second. That old amygdala kicks in to protect you. Well, a few seconds later, we were both crying -- me in relief, she out of fright -- and I started laughing and reassuring her. I have not been scared that bad in many, many years.