Camping Trips

One of my favorite childhood memories is of our frequent camping trips. These trips were always, “The Hardy and Sorrells families together.” My parents and the Hardy family were friends when they were kids. They lost contact with one another as adults until one day in 1972 they were all reunited. Once the reunion took place we became inseparable from one another.

I remember hearing the stories about those Hardy and Sorrells boys as they grew up. They were so mischievous, and now a new generation has come along. Our generation now has our on adventurous and mischievous stories that match our parents.

Mike Hardy and I were the two that our school bus driver said the devil followed us around. Each year he reserved the front seat behind his seat for us two. He was a Church of God preacher and bus driver. Every day he would preach to us two. The devil may have followed us but Jesus is the one who caught us. Both of us grew up to be Baptist pastors.

I now have a travel trailer that I mainly use for out of town preaching engagements. When I purchased it I decided to once again begin camping. I have started out with a plan to visit all the places our families camped as I grew up.

Last week I took my family to Putnam Beach on Sinclair. This is the same campground where the famous séance took place. I was about 11 years old at the time and several of us were in the back of Junior Hardy’s truck. We had no idea as to what we were doing but I was the one that was supposed to call some one back from the dead.

We all agreed that it would be my Uncle James Sorrells who had not been dead too long. (We thought he would be the easiest to contact since he hadn’t been gone too long).

We gathered in a circle and placed a flash light straight in the air and began to call out, “James Sorrells, James Sorrells, speak to us from the dead.” Each time I would start the call some one would giggle. I said to them, “Y’all need to get serious or we won’t be able to talk to no dead folks.”

Our eyes were supposed to be closed as we called out, but evidently Randall Hardy had his opened. He started saying wait I just saw something. Okay, if truth were known I was peeping also. I saw Ms. Kay Hardy as she came slipping out of her camper. Then all of the sudden here she came toward us covered in a white bed sheet and saying, “WOOO, WOOO, WOOO WOOO.”

Everyone began shouting! I started laughing and fell in the floor and they all piled on top of me. I laughed so hard that I wet on everyone.

Very few times do we get together when that night is not brought up. Last week I set at the campsite reminiscing on some of those old times. Many of the Hardy and Sorrells’ family members have passed away, but the memories of those good times will live on forever.

Let me encourage you to take time and build those lasting memories. They sure will brighten your days in the future when you recall them.