['This morning, I went out to get my paper and a cougar was in my front yard.  I darn near dropped my coffee cup!', 'That must have been scary! How are you feeling?', 'I am fine now, but I do not like being startled that early in the morning.']
I wouldn't want to be either that sounds terrifying!
I went out to get the paper this morning and saw a cougar in my yard.  I almost dropped my coffee mug.