By Laura Quarantiello © 2002 Tiare Publications 349 words

The new airport security rules, instituted in wake of September 11 tragedies, are not only causing longer lines and more delays, they’re also confusing travelers. How many bags can I carry aboard? Are golf clubs considered weapons now? What about nail clippers? Will airport screeners be searching every nook and cranny of my bags? Do I really have to show up two hours early for my flight? The anxiety is enough to make you take train. Here are some answers to help you out.

Yes, your nail clippers will be confiscated. The airlines have tightened rules on what is considered a potential weapon. Nail clippers (with metal file), pocket knives, razors, scissors, and even corkscrews now make list of no-no’s. Leave these in your checked baggage or at home. Don’t try to bring golf clubs or ski poles aboard, either; they won’t be allowed in passenger cabin.

Christmas Away From Home

My husband and oldest daughter, Angie, were my traveling companions as we left Grand Rapids, Michigan on morning of December 24. It was beginning of first snow storm of year. At 7 a.m. we had about 3 inches of snow and more was on its way. I kept thinking Oh, please just let us get out of Michigan! If we can just get off ground in Michigan, we'll probably escape storm and get safely to our destination - Las Vegas. Sure enough, flight was on time and we arrived in Las Vegas by 11 a.m. We had a great lunch (in 60 degree weather) and did some sightseeing.

It felt fun and exciting to be spending Christmas away from home for first time. The travel plans were well organized – by me, of course! We planned to drive to drive to Koosharem, Utah on Christmas day to pick up our youngest daughter, Vanessa, from school. It was a five-hour drive from Las Vegas but we planned to spend three days with her at a hotel not far from her school. We would then return her to school, drive back to Las Vegas, spend two days there, and fly home to Michigan. Knowing we would be driving most of Christmas day, we went to Christmas Eve Mass in Las Vegas. That was a new and interesting experience - church was very modern in design (a bit unusual for a Catholic church) but beautiful, bright, and colorful. There was a male soloist who had a wonderful voice - we could have listened to him all evening! He really helped create tone of whole mass. I can still hear his deep voice singing praise to Lord. The Drive Through Nevada And Utah

We went to bed early that night because we had to get up at 5 a.m. on Christmas day. The drive through Nevada and into Utah went fine - no snow or ice! The Nevada mountains looked like large haystacks from a distance. There was a lot of barren highway but mountains lined sky like a painted picture. As sun rose on Christmas day it was a beautiful sight to behold! The three of us were in awe as a small shimmer of sunlight popped up over a mountain peak. It then rose higher until it shown brightly over highest peak.

In Utah temperature was in single digits. It didn't matter, scenery was beautiful - our God is a wonderful artist. Entering Utah we were greeted by huge rock formations. Several times while driving we spotted bald eagles perched atop jagged rocks, surveying their territory. We drove through mountains that looked like rainbows – stripped colors of pink, gray, and orange rock.