I had a new life experience last week — a brush with death.

I was on my way from school to meet with my son-in-law Jake and friend Brandon at a Starbucks in West Des Moines.  Torrential rain was making visibility a bit difficult, but not impossible.  I wasn’t traveling at a high rate of speed on I-35 south.  Semis were flying by me.  Rain was collecting on low spots of the interstate.  Between Hickman Road and University Avenue in Urbandale, I hit a pool of water, and I started hydroplaning.

I am sure that some people in this reading audience have experienced hydroplaning, but this was a first for me.  The sensation was similar to hitting ice on the highway in the winter.  I …