About

Hi, I’m Erica — writer, caregiver, dog mom, and proud mother of human children who had the audacity to grow up and become functioning adults with lives of their own. I’m equal parts sentimental and sarcastic, and fully capable of crying over a memory and laughing at a fart joke five minutes later. Basically… I’m a fruit loop in a bowl of Cheerios kinda gal with a sassy attitude, emotional support dogs, and approximately 47 thoughts bouncing around my brain at all times… SQUIRREL!

Writing is how I figure life out… although caffeine, reading voraciously, and talking to myself (or the dogs) definitely helps. Then there’s Google and ChatGPT stepping in for life’s truly pressing questions like…

Is small cell lung cancer treatable?
What are the best standing core exercises?
Can dogs eat cucumbers?
Why does the same chin hair keep growing back like it pays property taxes there?
How do I transfer money from Venmo without accidentally sending it back to the person who sent it?
And how can something the size of my thumb drain an entire hummingbird feeder in two days and then have the audacity to stare at me like I’m late with the refill?

In a lot of ways, my notebook and pen have become my therapist, my friend, my memory keeper, my place to tell stories and share the little epiphanies life hands me when I least expect them.

At my core, I’m a caregiver.
A mama.
A nurturer.
A helper.
A teacher.
A dreamer.
A storyteller.
A goofball.

My hope is that something here makes you laugh, think, feel inspired, feel encouraged, feel understood, or simply reminds you that none of us are figuring life out perfectly—and that you’ll keep coming back for the ride.

I’m planning to keep most posts fairly short — just little reads from the heart that might help make your day a little lighter, a little better, or maybe just remind you there are still good people out here trying their best too. You may find a story that touches your heart or funny bone, and we all need that sometimes.

Anyway…off we go–the dogs need walked, and I’m still healing, still hoping, still laughing…and still trying to become the person my dogs already think I am.

© 2026 Anyway… Off We Go™ by Erica Shoemaker. All rights reserved.