Tylee's Tales

March 16, 2021

First, I would like to apologize for COMPLETELY forgetting to write my column last week. I didn’t remember at all; I couldn't believe it. My mom also didn’t remind me until a few hours before print, so I think we should blame her. *wink, wink* Again, I’m soooo sorry. I would say it won’t happen again, but if you know me ... it probably will.

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This week, I’m going to tell you about something that is truly sad, hurts me greatly and makes me cry. Why would I want to talk about something so sad? Simply because the stories I’m going to tell bring me happiness. They all include an amazing human being who was lost too soon. Someone who did so much for me, my family and our community. Someone who cared more about others than he did himself. Someone that everyone knows and everyone is grieving. The one and only Michael Tesch, a.k.a. Movie Theater Mike to my siblings.

I’m a sophomore this year, meaning I graduate in two years. This summer, Mike, well, honestly, this happened way before this summer, we just always talked about it. He wanted to plan my graduation party completely. He had the type of snacks, what food, and everything else. This would take place at the movie theater.

As a family that loves movies, we go to the theater a lot, and that’s where I first met Mike. My mom was good friends with him, and he acted as if he had known me forever from the first moment I talked to him, which, if you know Mike, that first moment he had some remark teasing me about something.

As I got older, Mike asked me to help out at the theater sometimes. My busy schedule didn’t let me help as much as I wanted, but it was always fun when I got to (and no, not just because he told me I was beautiful all the time.) He made me laugh and always reminded me how lucky I truly am. Never was there a time that he didn’t include, “I love your family” to our conversations at one point or another.  

Last summer, I had my sweet 16, but with the COVID-19 restrictions, I figured I wouldn’t get to do anything special. Mike and my parents had different thoughts though. Together, they planned out a whole surprise birthday party for me at the theater. We watched my favorite movie on the big screen with movie theater popcorn and some of my favorite people. I later found out that Mike was having a really rough week due to health issues with his mom. My mom said that we should cancel, but he absolutely insisted on having the party. He really made my 16th birthday special; to be honest, he made my summer the best one yet.

Then last spring, I was supposed to be confirmed, but again, thanks to COVID, it was rescheduled to the fall. I hadn’t asked a lot of people to come, and with Covid, I expected most of those invited not to come. Mike was among those invited, but it was short notice, I mean like the Saturday before confirmation because, as you know, I forget things. Guess what? He came, and he was so upset when there was a work emergency and he had to leave. He apologized constantly about not getting to come downstairs and got me a present (so not necessary!)

Every time I saw him, he would tell me how amazing I was, he was extremely nice, and frankly, he was my favorite person to run into. I loved getting to help at the movie theater because it meant hanging out with him, and he made my day 100 times better. I can’t count the number of times he told Josh that he would hunt him down if he ever hurt me or the number of times he would send Carter to sit in between Josh and I in the theater or the number of times he told me to stop growing up.

I already miss getting to see him and talk to him. I will forever regret not going to the movies recently. He seemed to love when we came to the movies as much as we did. Man, I miss Mike already, and my keyboard is getting flooded with tears, so I have to wrap this up.

Rest in peace, you beautiful soul. Thank you for everything you did for me, my family, and the town of Canby. You will forever be missed and loved.

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