A party and a lesson in careless speaking · Real Men Real Style Community

A party and a lesson in careless speaking

This last Sunday I went to the Nordstrom Icon and Ambassador Holiday Party, and the beginning of the evening could not have been more beautiful. I brought my wife’s best friend as my guest. I shop at Nordstrom often and she does not, so I wanted her to enjoy the full experience. We had registered ahead of time, checked in at the door, and joined the line that moved toward the entrance.

As we stepped inside, the atmosphere felt festive and thoughtful. A live brass band played by the entrance while artificial snowflakes drifted through the air, which is amusing in San Diego but still charming. We walked along a red carpet as employees clapped and welcomed each guest. Someone placed a glass of champagne in my hand as we passed. It felt warm, celebratory, and well put together.

Inside the party we stopped at the journal station. They were embossing names on the covers. My guest picked out a Peanuts themed journal and had her husband’s name added. He loves journals and Peanuts, so it was the perfect combination for him. Watching her light up over that gift was a highlight of the night.

We continued through the event, trying hot chocolate (you would be in shock at these), which was excellent, and cannolis, along with hors d’oeuvres and sparkling waters. Everything felt generous and carefully arranged. For a while we were simply enjoying the evening.

We talked about stopping at the bar, but before that I took her to the men’s fragrance section so she could test a few scents. That is when the night shifted.

Two employees nearby were talking. A younger associate asked why the store felt so busy. The response came in a tone that was impossible to misunderstand. “They let the ambassadors in,” she said, and she shook her head with a level of disdain that carried the feeling of calling people peasants without using the word.

My guest heard it clearly. She looked at me and said, “If ambassadors are spoken about like that, then what am I.” She had come as my guest, and that single comment hit her unexpectedly hard. It changed her entire experience in a matter of seconds.

It bothered me too. The evening had been built with so much care, and in less than twenty seconds the feeling shifted for both of us. Instead of staying to enjoy another drink or shop for gifts, we decided to leave. The mood had changed too sharply to continue.

I wrote to Nordstrom afterward, not out of anger, but because I believe in their service culture. They can coach someone on tone. What they cannot do is undo the effect that one careless sentence had on my guest. It altered her evening and it influenced how we both felt as we walked out.

The moral of the story is simple. One statement in the wrong tone can affect a person you never even realized was listening. In any public space, your voice carries farther than you think. It pays to be a little more aware and a little more careful, because your words can create an impact that is far greater than you expect, both positive and negative.

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