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Getting Giddy With Duane, Anthropologie Customer Service Rep
I was on hold with Anthropologie, waiting to update my credit card so I could receive a six-pack of steak knives in the most joyful colors — mango, lemon, sky blue, fuchsia, red, apple green. Did I really need them? No, but the colors!
The speakerphone was on, crackling with hold music as I contemplated writing a piece on post-covid life (all fun over here!). Then Duane appeared — a buttery vocal presence of friendliness and charm.
“Who do I have the pleasure of talking with?” Duane asked after introducing himself. He sounded like he really cared, and spoke in a joyful lilt.
“Tatyana Sussex,” I said. I’m not always the friendliest, chattiest person with strangers, although I’ve gotten a bit more into it the last couple of years. And during a sequestered covid year, I’ve exhibited an uptick in my conversations-with-strangers zeal.
“Tatyana,” he said, pronouncing my name perfectly. “Taaa-tyana!,” he repeated. “Oooh, I like that.”
“Yeah, it’s a good one,” I agreed. “I have my dad to thank for it.” I had just visited my 96-year-old Dad who has some memory gaps, and was reminding him that he named me and thanking him for it.
“Oh really? Well, Tatyana,” he said again with such friendliness. “Where are you?
