UNZIPPED! featuring Cathy Seitchik Diaz

One of our most loyal customers: Cathy Seitchik Diaz is our first Zip Her Sister that we will feature in our new monthly newsletter and blog. Click here to join our newsletter  and keep readying to see how something as simple as walking can change the course of your life . . .

What is your passion?
I LOVE WALKING! I started walking in 1995 and have not stopped since. When I was in my early 40s, I went to Weight Watchers to lose a few pounds, and they told me to start walking so I did. I always walked the same route every day and people started to recognize me. I knew I had gained notoriety when I had a garage sale and a little girl called out to her mom, “Mommy, Mommy, it’s the Walking Lady!” That’s how it all began! I became the Walking Lady – I walked rain or shine, everyday! From 6-8 miles daily to over 10 on weekends. 

In 2009, I met Lydia Smith, a documentary film producer, who unbeknownst to me would start my Camino journey. The next piece of the puzzle fell into place in 2012, when I met my partner David Stewart and I turned him onto WALKING! In 2014, I heard Lydia Smith was coming to Santa Cruz and doing showings of her new documentary, “Walking Camino – 6 Ways to Santiago.” David and I immediately went to watch and left the theatre inspired that we could do this. We had caught the Camino bug!

In the Spring of 2015, on April 9th, we started our amazing trek down the Camino. We loved it so much we did it again on April 9th of 2017, 2018, 2019, and our reservations are made for 2022.

My other passion is I love being helpful. When I started teaching ESL in Mexico, my career organically developed from there, and I became a teacher of adults.

How did you find Zip Hers and why do you love them?
On my many Camino escapades, I realized how hard it was to take off my belt, set down my backpack, pull down my pants, and go to the bathroom. For years this troubled me and then, in 2020, a Camino friend sent me a message about Zip Hers. I reached out to Debbie and fell in love with her pants and her. I love the practicality and function but appreciate Debbie’s plight of female empowerment. I fully support her and these amazing pants. 

What is your superpower?
I have an enormous amount of energy. My friends call me FON, a Force of Nature!

If you could walk and talk with 3 women, who would they be?
1. Golda Meir – She was so normal and natural. She would sit down and a have a cup of tea and bread she made with dignitaries.

2. Queen Elizabeth – Another real person that cares and really wants to get to know people.
3. Mother Teresa – She loved to help people, of course!

What is your favorite time of the day?
Morning – I start the day early and can get more done!

What are 3 things you don’t want to live without?
1. Good walking/hiking shoes
2. My Zip Hers pants
3. My 3 grandchildren

What is the most exciting/adventurous thing you have ever done?
There are 3 – walking the Camino for the first time, hiking Machu Picchu was 4 days of the hardest, most amazing trek with David, and going to Israel and seeing Jerusalem.

What are 3 words that describe you?
Energetic, enthusiastic, and over the top.

What one piece of advice would you give your Zip Her Sisters?
Don’t leave home with out your Zip Hers. One day, my grandbaby was asleep in a carrier on my chest. I was able to unzip and pee without even waking this baby! I flushed later – you don’t want to wake a sleeping baby. That was pretty amazing!

Also, be nice. There are many difficult people in all of our lives so just be nice!