No, you cannot overpack for the holidays

Merry Christmas to all my loyal followers! I'm assuming if you're reading this family time has gotten the best of you and cabin fever is threatening to kick in, the only answer being a quick anecdote to bring you back to everyday normality as crazy as that may be.  A few days ago as thousands of people excitedly left their homes for a long vaca and even longer journey to get there, I too made my way to JFK where a flight to Florida awaited me.  As I walked through the JetBlue terminal a couple of people rushed by me; first to pass was a man hauling a luggage carrier with at least 8 - 10 bags atop, making what should have been a quick run into more of a slow jog.  On his heels was a woman pulling behind her another luggage while carrying two duffel bags and yelling 'Excuse me!' down the entire corridor.  It took me a second to realize that the 'luggage' she was hauling actually carried very precious cargo- their 2-year old son who bounced happily along in what was really a booster seat, none the wiser to what all the rushing was for. 

A few minutes later I stood in the baggage line when I noticed this ill-fated family at the self check-in kiosk.  The dad was feverishly entering their boarding information while the mom coerced the luggage carrier into the line behind me.  I watched to see if they could actually pull it off, preparing to let them go ahead of me if it all worked out.  Unfortunately just as the kiosk printed the tickets the luggage carrier finally won the battle, causing an avalanche that took out the entire maze of ropes and almost their first born.  This is a classic holiday scene at the airport but luckily they made it through security in time, little boy in tow who was more than likely wondering why he can't bring his parents anywhere.