Timothy Kalendek was my uncle. His death wrecked my family. I didn’t know him well, as I wasn’t even a year old when he died, but the accident still shakes me to this day. Was he in the wrong place at the wrong time? Yes. But was his death his fault? No. So to all the people saying that he is at fault; let me ask you this: if your family members life was viciously ripped away from you in a matter of seconds by a pilot, would you blame that family member? I believe that Rod Tinney should be held accountable for his actions. He is able to continue with his life, but my uncle is not. I can only imagine what my life would be like if my uncle Timmy was still in it today. I hope he would be proud of my sister, my mom and I. We all miss him more than I can express here. I think about him every day, wondering what life would be like if he came home from that convention. I strive to live my life like he did, careless and free, but I can’t help but cry as I write this, wishing my funny uncle Tim was here to support me through college. It’s been a little over 17 years since the accident, and i can assure every single one of you that it doesn’t hurt any less today than it did the day it happened. I love and miss him more than anything, and I hope that he’s up there watching over us, knowing that we spend every day wishing he was down here with us, but at the same time knowing that he is in a better place.
In eternal free fall,
Jenna Dausch
