Ummmm Where's My License?

So the stand by flying was a success (more on the trip later). However, not without a glitch or hiccup.

I know that the airport wants to put safety first, however, are all the rules really necessary. Do I really need to show my license to like 3 different people? When going through security do I really have to half undress by taking my jacket, belt, and shoes off? Do I really have to half unpack my bag by taking my make up bag, my Ziploc bagging of 3 ounce lotions and potions, and my portable DVD player out of my carry ons? And not to mention my wallet, phone, and camera out of my purse?!?! I take up like 4 of the gray bins and my carry on luggage isn't even in one of them! No wonder security always takes so long.

Anyway, I decided to have a carry on bag that had clothes in it (I usually don't take one) #1. to cut on the cost of additional bags (I think it's like 15$ per checked bag). And #2. since we were stand by flying there is a good possibility your bag will make it to your destination before you do. So I wanted to have my clothes (and underwear!) with me just in case.

So needless to say, in the Salt Lake airport I did my routine of partially undressing and re-dressing, unpacking and re-packing, and I was trying to hurry since all Chris has to do is take the laptop out and re-pack it and take his shoes off and on.

We were off to the gate. And we made it on the flight (sigh of relief). Since there is no direct flight to Kona from Salt Lake we had to fly into Honolulu and then take a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Kona. We had to pick up our luggage, then walk clear over to the Hawaiian Air terminal only to go through security yet again.

When the lady at the counter checked in our checked bags and was going to give us our tickets she of course asked for my license. I looked in my wallet... not there. I thought oh I'm OK it's probably just in my purse. Looked through my purse, nope not there. I looked through my bag, not there. My pockets not there.

The panic set in.

The lady was like, "Oh it's OK, you just have to go through extra security." But I was like... Lady, my LICENSE IS GONE!! I am going to have to try to fly home stand by WITHOUT my license!

My mind started racing. Where did I see it last? I know I showed the security guy my license and my seat request at the Salt Lake City airport. Did I lose it during my mad dash to undress and redress and unpack and repack? Did I put it in my pocket and it somehow fell out? Did I leave it on the plane? Does somebody have my license now and is going to use my identification inappropriately? Are they going to look at the address and know we are on vacation and rob our home? (Panic seems to turn me into a crazy person) All while Chris is getting quite irritated at me for losing it. I tend to have a knack for losing things...

So we walked all the way back to the Delta counter to have someone look on the plane we just came off of to see if it was there. Nope. I wanted to cry. Our plane to Kona was about to leave in 45 minutes. So I just accepted the fact that I would have to go through "extra security" to at least get to Kona.

I waited in line to show the man my seat request minus my license. I tried using my Costco card (but the picture is so grainy it really could be anybody) and my credit card that has one of Chris and I's engagement pictures on it. But I still had to go through "extra security". You know because I am such a threat to the national security since I was trying to sneak between the islands of Oahu and the Big Island.

And as I go to take off my SHOES... I notice a pink thing flip at the bottom.... yep, you guessed it.... my license!!! During my undressing and redressing at the Salt Lake airport I must have slipped it into my shoe. And I promise I did not feel it in there the whole 6.5 hour flight!

At that point I was so grateful to find it I wanted to cry. I showed the guy my seat request and my license but he said I would have to go all the way back to the counter to show the ticket lady my license as well. The time was approaching that our flight was about to leave! So I just said I would go through extra security.

The little Asian lady, who was about half my size, searched me as the rest of security went through all my bags... but we made it to Kona.

The joke the rest of the trip was that if something was lost we should check to see if it was in my shoe!