Early on in their relationship Tyler was "sent to the doghouse" and in order to win Dylan over again, Dylan drew up a contract and required Tyler to sign it. The contract states, " In perpetuity, Tyler must bake Dylan boxed brownies at Dylan's request wherever and whenever Dylan wishes. The contract is terminable if both parties agree in writing." 5 years later Dylan has no plans on letting Tyler out of the contract.
Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2020 Tyler’s initial plan to propose to Dylan was thwarted by an untimely quarantine for COVID-19. Initially the plan was to do it on Ty and Dylan’s Anniversary, December 1st. Instead, Ty chose it to be around Dylan’s favorite holiday, Christmas surrounded by family. With some help from Ty’s brother and Dad he spontaneously asked Dylan to go outside to see his mother’s animals on her hobby farm around sunset on Christmas Eve. Upon discovering that it was 19 degrees below zero that evening, Dylan almost immediately requested to go back inside. With his plan quickly falling apart, Tyler told Dylan there may be a surprise Christmas present in the form of a puppy at the end of the driveway. Dylan then insisted that due to the festive season, the pair should don Santa hats and light-up Christmas necklaces. Tyler reluctantly agreed and they made their way down the road. At the end of the driveway, Tyler showed Dylan the wooden “Klobucher” sign with all the family’s names on it. There was a new plank with “Dylan” written on it, flanked by ice luminaries. When Dylan turned back around, Tyler read the poem he wrote below. Needless to say, Dylan’s tears froze to his face that evening.
Four years ago, almost to the day, Two boys would meet and pave the way, For an epic story that must be told, their first date a bar in the Minnesota cold. The food was average but the conversation rich, The drinks were poison, fit more for a witch. A night together, sealed with a breakfast note, The starting pages of this story, now wrote. One boy a training doctor, his career path set with stone, The other a professional, a broker of forever homes. Their lives intersected in a fortuitous way, For true love would lead them a thousand miles away. As new challenges arose, easy things became tough, But ultimately their relationship was made of the strongest stuff. The quarrels were more frequent and assumptions fools did make, The accelerator balanced elegantly with the brakes. Through uncertainty, a monumental move and the world falling ill, I often think of that cold winter’s chill, Where two souls met and altered each others lives, In ways so complex it’s hard to surmise. It’s amazing to think with current events so tragic, Their shared love and support a tangible magic. So today, like before, we stand, freezing and cold, Surrounded by family both new and old. My delicate invite is simple but bold, A contract through sickness and health it’s been told. But the story I mentioned needs a happy ending, The answer I ask for, this story’s depending. So to finish this chapter, the pages amiss, If I had to guess, it would sound something like this: And he got down on one shaky knee, And asked the most beautiful man in the world, Will you marry me?
Hope VIII XXVI Dylan planned a surprise proposal for Ty with their wedding photographer. Leading up to the engagement photo session, Dylan reached out to the photographer, Nicol, to ask for available dates. The only date left available happened to be August 26th, a date already very important to Dylan. This was no coincidence! After some discussion, they decided on Taylors Falls, Minnesota and the code-word “pizza” to tip Nicol off that the proposal would be imminent at whatever spot they were at. At a large outcropping of rock overlooking the river, Nicol innocently asked “where are you two going for dinner tonight?”. Dylan replied with “I’m feeling pizza, I think…”. Tyler, pleasantly confused at the random mention of dinner and pizza so early in the shoot, was then asked to pose looking out at the horizon with his back to the photographer and Dylan. He was instructed to turn around and look toward camera on cue. When he turned around, Dylan was down on one knee and began with the following… “5 years ago we met because of a little happenstance and hope. You started a conversation with me by asking about my Hope tattoo with the Roman numerals 8-26. I explained to you that when my grandma had cancer she adopted the word “hope” as a way of thinking. She believed a change in the way we think could lead to a change in our overall well-being. And she put up a good fight. After she passed, my grandpa was also diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and was given two weeks to live. He adopted the same mentality my grandma did and lived for 2 years. Ultimately, he passed away on August 26th, what would have been their 50 year wedding anniversary. This is not a sad story, it is a story about the strongest kind of hope and love. For me, this tattoo was hope that I would one day find their kind of love… …to one day find you. And that Hope is a feeling of trust. So now I kneel before you on this August 26th with one simple question. Will you marry me?”