Welcome To my Blab.. Blurb.. Err... BLOG!

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A desert-grown, travel-hungry, 6-foot-tall former bartender with a soft spot for street food, second chances, and small, meaningful moments.

I was born in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1985 and spent the first chunk of my life zig-zagging through different schools, dreams, and challenges. For nearly 20 years, I worked in bars—reading people, sharing laughs, and learning how to thrive in chaos.

In 2019, I began making big changes in my life, stepping away from habits that no longer served me and moving toward clarity, confidence, and healing.

My first international trip was to Italy in 2012. My second, years later, was with a friend who eventually became my husband. Since then, we've found ways to explore the world without breaking the bank. From Prague to Shanghai, I’ve fallen in love with travel not just for the views, but for the perspective.

Now, I’m documenting the journey—past, present, and future—one entry at a time.

So, here’s a funny thing I found while looking up the meaning of my name:
Wendee (a derivative of Wendy) has been said to mean two things—

✨ “The Wanderer”
🌳 “Slender Tree”

I read that and laughed out loud.
Because... yeah. That tracks.

I’m a tall woman who’s spent the last few years wandering—inward, outward, across continents, and through big life changes. I’ve made my way through growth, grief, healing, and hope. And suddenly here I was, a literal slender tree on the move. It was too perfect not to run with.

But beyond the name itself, The Wandering Tree works on so many levels:

• It’s about being grounded and still craving movement
   
• It’s about personal growth; stretching upward, even when you feel a little weathered
   
• It’s about being rooted in your story, but still reaching toward the next one
   
• It’s about how we carry our lives with us; our memories, our mess, our magic... wherever we go
   

It’s also a wink at how I sometimes feel awkward in the world: too tall for airplane seats, too curious to stay still, and maybe a little out of place in perfectly curated travel feeds. I’m learning to see that as a strength.

So, whether you're here for emotional honesty, offbeat travel tips, or just to see how a wandering tree navigates the world—welcome. You’re in good company.