My Story.


Well.

This is my first post on this site. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say, do or even how it all works, but the prompt told me to tell my story so that is exactly what I will do.

Let’s start with the basics.

My name is Joseph Ryan Cahill, I’m a young adult living in Milwaukee. I am studying at Marquette University earning B.A in both Marketing and Public Relations.

I come from a big Irish Catholic family. I am the youngest of six boys.

In my free time I like to read classical literature, study really thought provoking current issues..

Wait.

Who am I trying to impress? I wasn’t told to tell a perfect story. I was told to tell my story.

So I guess you are going to get me, warts and all (Even the ones on the bottom of my left foot. Gross, right?).

My name is Joseph, but I just go by Joe.

I like to think I am a young adult, but still call my mom to ask for gas money when my budget gets tight.

I am kind of living in Milwaukee? I grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, and am only in Milwaukee because of school and work.

My old bedroom at home has officially been transformed into the guest room my mom has always wanted, so I guess the closest thing I have to my own space will be my dorm room in the fall.

I’m getting a double major, but I’m not exactly sure what I want or even can do with it. People always ask me what I want to do when I graduate and I always respond with, “I’ll work anywhere they pay me.”

The big Irish Catholic family part is pretty true. Well, we were raised Catholic. I don’t think we even went to Christmas or Easter Mass the past two years (Sorry God!). We always use the excuse “We find God in everything we do.”

But we are definitely Irish. We have a collection of Irish Santa figurines that are on display all year round in our living room at home as well as a framed sign that reads, “Authentic Irishman for Hire. Storytelling & Singing, Dancing and Carrying On. Available All Hours. Experienced Drinking Companion.”

Here are six of our Irish Santas, on display year round, right where everyone can see how weird we are. This is actually the main reason I never had friends over.

On March 17th every year my dad would even call us out of school saying “Sorry, the boys won’t be coming in today, they are feeling a little green!” go to the St Patricks Day parade in Des Moines.

I have five older brothers (Jim, Tim, Tom, Pat, Mike and me) and definitely have favorites too.

Left to right: Mike, Jim, Tim, Tom, Me, my mom, Becky (Pat’s wife) and Pat.

You may have laughed at how simple our names are. Let me explain: My mom was a kindergarten teacher and dealt with children who fell all over the intelligence spectrum. Her reasoning for giving us short and easy names was, “I want it to sound good with ‘Senator’ before it (Senator Joseph Cahill has a nice ring to it, right?) but I also want it to be easy for you just incase you aren’t as lucky.”

I have no intentions of ever running for office. This is just a random logo I designed using Adobe when I bored.

So far none of us have become senators, and we all go by the short versions. Uh-oh.

In my free time I like to binge watch Netflix (Parks and Recreation, The Office, Arrested Development, terrible horror movies), eat salt and vinegar flavored kettle chips, create random logos using Adobe programs and ride my bike (The only thing on this list I am proud of).

I love to bike around MKE and explore some of the great things the city has to offer. This was taken outside the Summerfest grounds.

So now you know a little, or maybe too much about me. As I continue to post stories, experiences and anecdotes of my life, we will both discover who I am.

Till next time,

Joe.