Once upon a time I very proudly announced to my friend that I was an initiator. He looked at me and with a smile that filled his face, a sparkle that lit up his eyes, and with the most deadpan voice, replied, “Charlotte, you aren’t an initiator, you are an instigator.”

To which we both broke out laughing.

So it was that instigator spirit that was moved when I read this week’s photo challenge. And even though we are at my mother-in-law’s for Christmas, and we are busy and all that, the combination of this prompt and the sound of running water in the next room was just too great.

I had to do it.

I had to make the time to do this post.

I had to.

So off the computer I got, into my suitcase for my camera I went, and sneak into the bathroom where my husband, Neal, just happened to be conveniently taking a shower, I did. With one quick movement, I flung open the shower curtain and said, “Smile!”

Oh what fun it was. And he is such a good sport.

He really is.

And I kept it clean. (pun intended)

And now, speaking of the fun it is surprising Neal, I just have to tell you the story of the time I made him fall off the treadmill.

See, he was upstairs in our home gym and he had just started his warm up and feeling quite, well, mischievous, I came into the room and said, “Betcha I can make you fall off.” And in his, “I am a serious runner and my workouts are serious business so there is no way you can break my focus” kinda way, he took my challenge.

Of course I already knew I could do it. I mean really. Any woman knows how to make a man fall off a treadmill.

And with what could only be called a horrible rendition of stripper music, I began a striptease work of art. One by one, off came pieces of my clothing and before I was even done, off the back of the treadmill Neal went!

It was the most glorious sight. I felt so powerful. I felt so right.

“Don’t you be telling me I can’t do something,” I said, busting out laughing.

And unhurt and still on the floor, he replied, “Darling, you can prove me wrong like that anytime!”

Oh how the instigator in me loves fun surprises!

For more Surprises, check out the Weekly Photo Challenge here.