Nickies…

I love renaming people.  Don’t ask me why.  I just do.  My father in law is Nick James Cannell.  I’ve renamed him Nickies.  Nickies fathers name was James Nick Cannell.  He stood about 5′ 8″ and weighed 140 lbs. soaking wet.  He was born in 1894.  He was Greek.  

He was also, all American.

James Nick Cannell was my brides Grandfather.  He started a bakery without a high school education and without the help of any business experience.  All he had was guts.  He kept the business going through the Great Depression and through WWII.  Oftentimes he had his salesmen call in with how much cash they had collected that day so he knew how many pies he could afford to make for the next.  He ran “lean and mean” before the term had been coined.  He demanded excellence without reading a single Tom Peter’s book.  He just didn’t know any other way.  He would pass that gene along.  His son, Nick James, caught the full measure.

James Nick Cannell died in 1948.  He died young.  Too young.   At least he was able to die at his home.  You see he had been in a “care giving home,” because his illness couldn’t be treated any other way.  He didn’t die there, however, because his son demanded better care than they were giving.  I can hear Nick giving them hell as he demanded they release his father immediately.  They wanted to wait for proper paperwork and Doctors releases.  My father in law had none of it.  He took his father home.

The next day James Nick passed.  

The business passed to Nick James.  Nick was fresh from serving overseas and working at Curtis-Wright.  He wasn’t cut from factory cloth and decided then to try to take the business and make something of it.  It was just a small bakery.  He would turn it into a big one.  One that would innovate it’s way out of being a “donut” shop that did some pies, to becoming the world’s first frozen pie company.  The company was the Mountain Top Pie Company and Nick ran it like James would have liked. He demanded excellence and he provided a “care giving home” for his employees.  He still does.  Eventually Nick would sell the company to Lancaster Colony. Very cool, Nickies…

Today, over lunch, Nick told me this story.  He’s 89 and sharp as when I met him almost 30 years ago.  

Nick lamented that his father had not lived to see his son’s success.  He recalled that he hoped his father would be proud of him.  I’m certain he is.  

As you face your set of challenges today, remember that you come from great stock.  You are NOT a victim of the times, you are NOT a victim of circumstances.  You and I have not seen trouble like we’re seeing now.  That much is true.  However, our Fathers and Mothers have.  AND, their Fathers and Mothers have.  AND, theirs as well.  

Ask your parents to tell you their stories.  Ask your Grandparents as well.  Next time you see someone that looks like they’re 80, ask them too.  Develop the habit of acquiring wisdom from those that have come before.  

Very cool, Nickies…