I’ve wondered this for as long as I’ve lived anywhere near a Nordstrom.

(If you’ve never shopped there, basically, it’s an endless stream of “Jenna C. Jones” and “Mark D. Spots” over the intercom system — in fact, whenever I hear that first one, I always think about how much that girl’s parents must love beer to have named her after Genesee.)

It’s very noticeable, and it’s been a point of speculation in my household for years. Are they the names of fashion designers? Can’t be — I’d recognize at least some of them. Are they the names of customers who left something behind? Can’t be — they are too prevalent. Customers can’t be so forgetful that consistently.

I am pleased to report that I finally squeezed the scoop out of a recently hired Nordstrom employee: They are the names of store employees. If they put a C in the name, it means they have a phone call; if they put a D in it, they’re needed by their department. THE WORLD MAKES SENSE NOW. The employee didn’t tell me this specifically, but I’m betting this little system is designed to minimize the perception that employees are focusing on anything but the customers.

But I will tell you this — Genesee Jones gets A LOT of phone calls.