The Last Furnace Call Before Winter

Winterization call at a lake house northeast of Guthrie, late October. The owners were closing it up for the season. Twenty-two years of the same closing. They worked while I worked. He stacked the porch cushions in the storage room. She rinsed the breakfast dishes with a deliberateness that had nothing to do with dishes. Every motion had the weight of a last one for a while. Neither of them talked much. I didn't either. Some jobs are better served by silence. Constantine Sedikides and Tim Wildschut published research in 2008 on nostalgia. Nostalgia is not primarily about the past. It is a way of maintaining continuity between who you were and who you are now. It is triggered by endings and transitions. It feels bittersweet: warmth and loss arriving at the same time. They found it is a resource. It stabilizes the self when the ground shifts. For these two people, the same closing ritual done the same way every October holds the thread of who they are across the winter. She brought me coffee while I was finishing up and stood looking at the water. She said: we've done this same closing since 2002. First time we brought the kids they were in grade school. Now they bring their kids. She wasn't saying it to me exactly. She was saying it out loud because out loud is how the thread holds. I said: that's a long time to love a place. She said: I always cry a little bit when we leave. Twenty-two years and I still cry. I said: that sounds about right. There was a small leak at a water fitting. He said: fix it now, I don't want her worrying about it all winter. I fixed it, finished the checklist, wrote the spring list, and got out of the way. When I left they walked me to the truck together. He had the keys in his hand. She still had her coffee. He said: see you in the spring. I said: yes sir, she'll be ready. A service call at the end of a season at a place people love is not a sales opportunity. It's a small piece of someone's continuity. The right way to do it is to do it clean. Core line: "I always cry a little bit when we leave. Twenty-two years and I still cry." Give Us A Shout Thanks for tuning in to Hartzell's Heat & Air, your trusted HVAC experts in Oklahoma and beyond. From Kingfisher to coast-to-coast consulting, we design, install, and maintain smart, efficient systems that deliver year-round comfort. We're employee-owned, family-run, and powered by 45+ years of experience. Whether it's AI-powered thermostats, geothermal systems, or classic tune-ups, we deliver upfront pricing, expert care, and warranties that back it all up. 🛠️ Book Online:https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hartzells-Heat--Air/4a569038b3dc460daf2d5f6497b18351?v2=true🌐 www.hartzellsheatair.com📞 (405) 375-4822 🚛 Trane Comfort Specialist • Mitsubishi Diamond Dealer • ClimateMaster Elite🛡️ VIP Comfort Club • Remote Monitoring • Extended Warranties 📲 Follow us for tips, updates, and real-world installs:YouTube: @hartzellsheatair6003X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVACFacebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatairLinkedIn: Dave Hartzell Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.