Flooding and Fishtailing

Mini Cooper convertibles and a deluge of a rain storm do not mix. I know this first hand.

A few things that make the Mini unsuitable:

• No rear windshield wiper
• No rear visibility
• No side visibility
• No weight to the car
• At least one bald tire
• Front wipers not fast enough for said deluge

In addition to that, let it be said that Southern California drivers are not at all equipped for rain. So, we were coming home from the airport last night (with Tyler in the front seat because the back seat was the only place large enough for our luggage) and the rain was pouring. It was pouring to the point that I thought I might have to pull over and wait for a lull. I'm talking drops the size of silver dollars spreading across the windshield and falling so fast that the wipers gave me virtually no visibility before the windshield was covered again.
Through all of this, I catch a glimpse of a big electronic sign which reads, "ADVERSE WEATHER. PLEASE DRIVE WITH CAUTION". No one slowed from their 60+ mph. This was followed a short time later with a sigh that read, "FLOODED HIGHWAY. REDUCE SPEED." Again, no one slowed down, except for me. Within a minute or so, my car was completely engulfed by a spray of water pluming up from the cars in front of me. I kid you not, it went to both sides as well as up and over my car. And then, I saw all sorts of brake lights, and cars started fishtailing down the highway, careening into each others' lanes. And I couldn't really tell where anyone was because I could only intermittently see out of my front window, and the red glow of taillights through vast quantities of water is not enough to tell you if your small son is about to be crushed by an airbag or not. So, I continued to slow without braking, held the wheel as steady as I could (even though I'm pretty sure my tires weren't on actual ground at that point either) and prayed like I have never prayed before. Tyler slept peacefully the entire time.

And here we are unscathed, so that's good.