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The HVAC Call That Became The Reason
I want to talk about a call from a long time ago. Thirty-something years. I still know the address.
July. Late twenties, maybe twelve years in the trade, sent out alone on what should have been a routine call. Older woman, eighties, living by herself a few miles east of town. System had quit. Her daughter called it in.
She met me at the door. First thing she said: I wasn't going to call. My daughter made me. When I asked why, she said, I didn't want to be a bother.
The house was a hundred and four degrees. She'd been in it for two days.
Failed contactor. Twenty-minute repair. I sat with her a few minutes longer than I needed to, until the house started to come down. Then I sat in my truck before I started it. Wasn't doing anything. Just sitting.
Brown and Kulik named it flashbulb memory back in 1977: emotional intensity plus personal relevance plus surprise, and the brain encodes differently. David Pillemer in 1998 extended it to what he called momentous events: ordinary memories that keep surfacing for decades because something in them is still working on you.
I went back the next week. Not for a service call. Just to check. She was surprised. She lived another four years. Every time I came back she'd say, I hope I'm not keeping you.
Core line: "Most of it becomes the trade. Some of it becomes the reason. That one became the reason."
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: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.
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By Dave Hartzell's Heat & Air - Kingfisher,OKI want to talk about a call from a long time ago. Thirty-something years. I still know the address.
July. Late twenties, maybe twelve years in the trade, sent out alone on what should have been a routine call. Older woman, eighties, living by herself a few miles east of town. System had quit. Her daughter called it in.
She met me at the door. First thing she said: I wasn't going to call. My daughter made me. When I asked why, she said, I didn't want to be a bother.
The house was a hundred and four degrees. She'd been in it for two days.
Failed contactor. Twenty-minute repair. I sat with her a few minutes longer than I needed to, until the house started to come down. Then I sat in my truck before I started it. Wasn't doing anything. Just sitting.
Brown and Kulik named it flashbulb memory back in 1977: emotional intensity plus personal relevance plus surprise, and the brain encodes differently. David Pillemer in 1998 extended it to what he called momentous events: ordinary memories that keep surfacing for decades because something in them is still working on you.
I went back the next week. Not for a service call. Just to check. She was surprised. She lived another four years. Every time I came back she'd say, I hope I'm not keeping you.
Core line: "Most of it becomes the trade. Some of it becomes the reason. That one became the reason."
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: @hartzellsheatair6003
X: https://x.com/HartzellsHVAC
Facebook: facebook.com/hartzellsheatair
LinkedIn: Dave Hartzell
Built on trust. Backed by warranty. Designed for comfort.