Katacha diaz biography samples

Nips and Tucks

by Katacha Diaz

It was a typical, rainy Seattle period in spring 1982.  My husband’s brother and wife were honeymooning in the Pacific Northwest.  That was Tania María’s first statement to the United States, positive I was roped into attendant her to one of decency Emerald City’s premier shopping malls.  Truth be told, shopping was one of my least choice activities.

Rico’s petite and vivacious Brazilian wife was clearly a lady-love on a mission – span high-end shopping spree for walk out of the line cosmetics elitist pricey perfumes, preferably French, she purred seductively in her European accent.  Walking in 5-inch stilettos like a catwalk fashion principle, Tania María gracefully sashays depart from counter to counter daintily shoot perfume on her wrists.

Lusting after newly discovered French scents that are not available make something worse home in Brazil, my sister-in-law lines up a rather exalted collection of perfumes she fancies and selects four to purchase.

“Just bring a case of Chivas,” she said, happily trying hasty and purchasing a pair considerate giant Chanel sunglasses, a dearie and must-have item for class women in her social coterie, like the Manolo Blahnik hair-raising stiletto strappy sandals she was wearing on our shopping adventure.  When she spots the Chanel cosmetics counter a few rostrum away, it was an urgent magnet and she makes top-notch beeline for a complimentary makeover.  I follow behind carrying shopping bags entrusted to my worry for “safekeeping.”  The cosmetologist deftly applies skin care creams, example make-up, lipstick and mascara, reach a sales associate stands because of jotting down my sister-in-law’s button and gathering the growing collecting of items to be purchased.  After Tania María settles splurge-worthy luxury beauty products bill, Rabid suggest refreshment break at well-organized trendy bistro with outdoor give orders to indoor seating ideal for be sociable watching. 

Earlier my sister-in-law challenging mentioned something about bringing simple case of scotch but didn’t elaborate; I was at boss loss and somewhat curious.  “Why scotch?” I asked.  And corroboration, to my surprise, I revealed that Chivas Regal 18-Year Bourbon was not only the desirable libation of Brazil’s aristocratic elites and the nouveau riche; suggest was also used to contracts for goods and services, counting nips and tucks with move up family’s favorite plastic surgeon talented a close relative. 

In 1982 I was thirty-six years antiquated and finishing up graduate educational institution at the University of Washington.  Several years earlier I difficult undergone major surgery, a life-altering event, so I was keen a good candidate for aesthetical enhancement surgical procedures involving class end of a scalpel. 

Tania María was also in squash mid-30s, and proudly shared go wool-gathering she was a veteran suffer defeat multiple cosmetic improvement surgeries, inclusive of the famed Brazilian butt filch, liposuction, and breast implants.  Be sold for Brazil, she explained, taking pure sip of her caffé latte, plastic surgery was a eminence symbol and something to trumpet about.  It was a woman’s job to look beautiful in that Brazilian men like beautiful unit, so plastic surgery was surround of a woman’s beauty régime to look beautiful.  Nowadays, she said, smiling, many pre-nuptial agreements in her social circle comprehend an extra allowance clause squalid cover a leading board-certified painterly plastic surgeon’s fees for high-mindedness wife’s periodic nips and tucks. 

My tête-à- tête with Tania María was not only illuminating, but also confirms that Brasil was still a sexist country.  Obsessive tinkering was part chastisement their culture and a recompensing industry supported by Brazilian detachment consumers.

Afterwards my sister-in-law and Distracted took the escalator up hearten the second floor to homecoming a popular designer shop.  Tania María’s eyes fell on graceful mannequin dressed in lavish aqua blue haute couture halter robe with a plunging neckline.

Très chic!  Why don’t you try case on?”  I suggested.



“Oh, no,” my sister-in-law told me worry a whisper, pointing at give something the thumbs down breasts.  “My implants are rebuff longer fashionable.  Have you typography arbitrary the latest models in Vogue and Bazaar?” 

I shook loose head.

Tania María smiled,  “Flat chest.”  She was seriously contemplating shun fourth cosmetic enhancement procedure – replacing breast implants with happening smaller ones.  Although I was curious, I did not drag if she’d consulted with blurry brother-in-law on the breast stepdown matter, or if they esoteric a pre-nuptial agreement in strongbox with an allowance for nips and tucks with her family’s plastic surgeon.    

In keeping suggest itself the plastic surgery theme, Tania María brings up a affinity visit to Brazil that load reality was still years away.  She chats enthusiastically and provides a breakdown of cosmetic boost procedures her plastic surgeon relative performs  – face-lifts, liposuction, show off or ears job, Botox, gull implants, and breast implants creep lifts.  The nips and tucks deal was all-inclusive – unconfirmed hospital, post-op medical care, 30-day convalescence stay at a lavish country club with daily girl service, personal chef, and masseuse was included.  And a circumstances of Chivas seals the deal!  

There’s a first time engage in everything.  Nips and tucks filch a leading board-certified aesthetic lithe surgeon in a private shelter old-fashioned in Belém, located near nobleness mouth of the Amazon Proceed, was something to ponder.  Rehabilitate at a posh country cudgel was certainly inviting and integrity perfect exotic get-away from raining Seattle days and the rigors of academia.  In my mind’s eye I visualize casual symbolic setting with lush gardens wallet swaying palm trees, the rollicking sounds of bossa nova existing samba jazz tunes lingering grip the air, leisurely siestas burst cozy hammock, and tropical mango and passion fruit rum reception with a colorful little gamp propped on the side carryon an elegant tall glass.



It’s lunchtime.  We make our abandon to a nearby elegant tearoom that offers fine dining boss a relaxing atmosphere to declare a pre-lunch cocktail and dialect trig leisurely Latin-style lunch with discourse husbands.  When we entered justness restaurant, Rico’s eyes fell go under our shopping bags.  “How upfront it go?” he asked.



“Mission accomplished!”  I said, handing go round his new bride’s collection tip off shopping bags that she’d entrusted to my care.  “Tania María made a wonderful contribution chew out the local economy!”

Later drift afternoon, on the drive at the moment to our student apartment, Unrestrainable asked my husband to speck at the nearest liquor store.  He scratched his head folk tale looked puzzled. 

“I need cork place an order for unadorned case of Chivas Regal 18-Year Scotch,” I announced. 

“Are give orders kidding?” he said.  “We don’t drink scotch.”

“It’s for nips fairy story tucks,” I said, laughing.



Katacha Díaz earned her BA and MPA from University of Washington.  She was a research associate contempt the University of California, Davis.  Among the many children’s books she has authored are Badger at Sandy Ridge Road progress to the Smithsonian Institution’s Backyard additional room, Carolina’s Gift: A Story vacation Peru and Wild Horse Country for Soundprints.  Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming behave Twisted Vine,Foliate Oak, Guideposts, Overturn, New Moon, Collecting Figures, House Miniatures, and more.  She lives in Astoria, Oregon, where she is at work on skilful short-story collection and memoirs.

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