Hey Taylor (@taylorswift),
Maybe that's a little forward? Anyways, I hope you don't mind the lack of formality. I just wanted to write to you on behalf of my mother. She has been pestering me for years to write to you and tell you how much she adores you and your music. Ever since you broke out on the scene (my cousin, Katie, saw you at the Erie County Fair all the way back in 2007), my family has cherished your music. It was then in 2007 introduced to your music that year as was my mother and sister.
It has brought us closer together and got us through tough times. For instance, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and I had to leave for college in 2016 right after we found out the news. The ride there we listened to The Best Day and I silently shed tears for having to leave her side as she was going to go through her battle, even if my mother is the strongest woman I know and if anyone could make it through it would be her. Despite the lumpectomy she got the day before, she was there the very next day to move me in to my very first dorm. The Best Day still brings me back to every time my mother has been by my side. Whether I was a baby in home videos, in middle school being bullied, or having to leave her side to spread my own wings.
Later on in my college career for Mother's Day, I saved up the little money I had as a student and I bought my mom and cousin Katie tickets for us to see you on your Reputation Tour in Toronto. My mother had just beat breast cancer not long before and we all teared up at your opening video, but besides that I never seen such a enormous smile on my mother's face (I'll attach a photo of her and the stage behind her so you can see her beaming too and then one of the three of us). We all danced and sang the night away until we were breathless, you looked incredible by the way. The concert was more than just a concert, it was indescribably amazing. My heart wells every time I think of that experience you gave the three of us.
I'm 2008, for Christmas my little sister received a DVD player with her very first CD which was Fearless. I remember we used to play with our toys in the basement and blast that album. I could hear my older brothers and mom sing along from above. When Speak Now dropped in 2010, my mother raced to Target and bought the CD for her car. From the get go, she was obsessed with it. She later told me that every day she drove home from work she would listen to it. Even now, on the good days she plays Speak Now to listen to the track titled the same and on the bad ones she blasts Mean and proudly sings along.
Katie went through losing her mom, my aunt, to cancer in 2007 at seventeen. Your song Never Grow Up and New Years Day along with some others bring her back to memories of her mother which I know she would even tell you herself is priceless. It captures my aunts radiant soul for my cousin and tugs on the heart strings so much so I remember her few tears she shed at your concert when you performed the ladder.
The other day Katie and I were talking about how one of your albums connects her to a guy in her life now or formally. I realized that for me, the Reputation album is one that dropped right as I was falling in love with my boyfriend now, Walter. Every time I listen to that album it brings me to that time when my heart would race and my hands would sweat. It was Delicate. His favorite from the album is Dancing with Our Hands Tied and to this day we jam out in the car together to that song and others of yours.
The reason I'm finally getting to write to you is the pandemic. My mother is an essential worker and since she is a nurse she comes home absolutely drained. I know even just me attempting to reach you will lift her spirits up and since I just graduated I have some spare time on my hands to do just that.
Your music is so powerful. I really wanted to write this for my mom at first, but now I realize I wanted to write this as a thank you from not only her, but me and my sister and cousin. There's a chance you might never see this. If you do, thank you so much even though a thank you doesn't even cover it. I hope you are safe, well, and happy- along with your family in this difficult time.
We love you and your music.
Love,
Jenna and family
