Cozy with airline security

Darkness began to lift as we arrived at the Quito airport. Time passed a bit more quickly than we cared for as lines for baggage and immigration crept along. Joy! We made it to security our plane was boarding and we were going to make it. Whoa.... There is a knife somewhere in Spencer's back pack. One search through it. Nothing found. Back it goes through the x-ray and then another search, this time they start emptying it. We are all a little mystified as I know I packed his pocket knife in the suitcase and Spencer had spotted Matthew's hooked to his backpack at baggage and we quickly put it in a suitcase. Finally in the bottom of a pocket security finds Spencer's now bladeless knife he and Lee had made into a spear. Into the garbage it goes, thankfully we are on our way. As we get to the gate I hear our name pronounced in Spanish- they must be waiting for us as we're kinda late. They take our boarding passes and their faces light up. Surely this is good? Suddenly we have serious faces, "Matthew?" We point. "We need your passport. Security has questions." Matthew and Sharon step aside, they send Matthew back to Tim and Security takes Sharon aside. Thinking she has been selected for a more thorough search she starts following the man. Away from everyone he swipes his card at a door but she has no idea where it leads-can't read Spanish all that fast. Outside he leads, down a flight of stairs, and to the Tarmac. This is certainly a first! They head along the building underneath the gate level. With dim lighting she's asked to pick put her luggage. They lift it up on a table providing instruction in slightly broken English. "Open your bag. We need your passport." Everyone is fairly serious. At least they have selected the bag that does not contain a variety of machetes. They begin going through the suitcase that has two suitcases inside it. The family is traveling much lighter as they head home. Then they pick up the purse sent along with us to others-Sharon has no idea what is in it, a deep breath as she knows the friends who gave it to her would never send something at issue but late last night she never thought to ask. "He said you can close your bag." Everyone stands around as one man writes done info from the passport and they question where Sharon has been. The bag is closed, there is a silent sigh of relief, people smile, and there is chit chat and reassurances as they walk back to the stairs and ascend to the gate. "The plane is still boarding don't worry. Did you like Ecuador? Are you traveling alone?" Through the magical door to the gates they go, one last swipe of the metal detector wand, and she is released to the gate attendant. Her face lights up again and she hurriedly hands Sharon the boarding pass. With a sprint down the hall and some help from various people she gets direction as to which door is the correct plane. Others on he plane have not yet found their seats and a winded Sharon eventually finds her way to the rest of the family and happily sits down. That green borrowed suitcase has seen some interesting times.

Hopefully the last post from an iPhone!