You're a young bastard! Hell, back in the day all you needed was a paper boarding pass and everybody not flying could go to the gate with you as well.
OK, I take it back, I do remember not needing an ID but it was when I was under 18 and it was pre-9/11. I assumed I didn't need one because I was under 18 but I guess no one needed to show ID pre-9/11? I definitely remember when you could meet people at the gate. My how that's changed.