Dear Taylor,

I was introduced to you in 2006. The first song I jammed out to was probably "Tim McGraw". However, the first one I had a real connection to was "Tear Drops on My Guitar". I was upset that my middle school crush (one that I had since the third grade) didn't talk to me even after I auditioned for a show just to hang out with him. I was so upset, I even changed the lyrics to go with the musical instrument I was playing at the time. The "tear drops guitar" was turned into "tear drops on my Piano". Fast forward a couple months, and I was on my way to see you open for Keith Urban my cousin and I were mesmerized by how long you could flip your hair without getting dizzy (even while you covered a JT song). Fast forward two years to the release of Fearless. Still, in middle school, my little adolescent self jammed out to your CD that I purchased with a gift card I got for Christmas that year. "Hey Stephen" was my jam because I found a new interest in bad boys and like you, "I saw a light " in them. My senior year in high school, I sang "White Horse" in my youth group's talent show to make a low-key jab at a guy who was nice to me just because he felt bad that I had Cerebral Palsy. "Speak Now" came out, and I was sure I was going to have to use it to break up a wedding. This time, I was in high school. "Mean" was pretty much what I was experiencing my freshman year , and it was all due to the girls who always hung out with each other, and whose moms were equally as mean. Fast forward my junior year. My mom was suddenly diagnosed with colon cancer (she is cancer free now, yay! Here we are before the 1989 world tour).

I suddenly found myself surrounded by my friends and family who were willing to do anything for us. As I'm sure you know because of your mom's diagnoses, this can be a little overwhelming. On the days my mom had chemo, I drove myself to school in her car and blasted Red. My parents surprised me with tickets to see your show in Atlanta. I'm almost positive that my mom had chemo the day before the show. On the bright side, I got to go with one of my best friends. (seen in the picture below). And we had fun despite some interesting things that happened. Both you and Ed Sheeran basically created one of the best nights of my life.

Now, I'm in college. I know every word to every song on 1989, and may even possess a blanket with the album cover on it. For my 20th birthday, and my cousins' Valentine's day present, we got to rock out to you again. This time, with awesome colored bracelets. I can't tell you how many times I have made "Out of the woods" relate to everything from relationships to final exams. "Shake it off" is basically my anthem and the title to my first Odyssey article. (cousins are pictured below).

Lastly, I would like to say a word about your recent home in the media. I respect you and your decisions, but I remember that you once said something like the day you stopped being yourself, is the day you will stop performing. I hope this isn't true because it looks like you are headed in that direction. Thank you for writing songs that help me and so many others through the rough times, and for giving us some of the best memories.

Emma