In its absence

We have a pet turtle. Cute red-eared slider, swimming in his tank and crawling up on his rocks and log. A filter circulates the water, burbling all day long.

Usually the turtle lives in our downstairs bedroom, but while we had guests, the turtle tank came to the living room. Burble burble burble.

The noise was getting to me. One day I let the turtle wander the house for an hour so I could unplug the filter.

This afternoon the tank finally went back to the bedroom. My living room is blessedly quiet.

What I did not realize, though, is the white noise that filter provided. I startle with every rustle.