Letter to Taylor Swift (PDF)

Dear Taylor,
I have Autism, ADHD, DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) and BiPolar Disorder (all of
which are controlled by doctor-prescribed medication), and whenever I feel like I’m
struggling/feeling down, I listen to your music. Your music helps me through tough times,
especially upbeat, positive songs like Shake It Off. When I got to my aunt’s on Boxing Day 2014,
I found two gifts. Sticking with tradition, I opened the smaller one first. It was a Tim Horton’s
ornament that looked like a box of Timbits™. That was cool, but when I opened the second,
larger (and last) gift, I did a weird happy dance and tripped over a cat toy (my aunt has 4
cats). Does that statement (the last part modeled after one of your tweets) give you a hint
about what I got? Unscramble the hashtag:

T-8-#-9-S-9-E-D-L-U-E-1-X
To check your answers, reblog this PDF and I will reblog your reblog with the correct answer.

So yeah, I was so happy! I finally got what I wanted for Christmas! My aunt remembered how
much I wanted it, and the day after her and I went to Target, she went back to get it (this
was in November). So she understands the influence you have had on my life.

Your music has helped me through so many struggles. I listened to your music when Mom lost
the house and her and I had to live in a shelter (I was under 12, and thank goodness because if
I wasn’t, they would’ve sent me to the men’s shelter and separated me from my mom).
Without your music, I would’ve been a miserable lunatic. Now I’m just the person my
classmates argue with about who the best singer is. For the record, I always say that you are
because you write your own songs, and you are a positive role model (unlike the other singers
out there). Plus, you are the only artist whose CDs I can play IN FULL around kids because the
lyrics are decent.

I recorded a video of me singing Welcome to New York on my iPhone and would love to send it
to you. I think you would find my rendition quite interesting because I sang over your voice and
then, at the end, I sang parts, and then other parts I was silent and your voice was the only
one audible. It’s really cool, and I don’t know if you know what I mean because I’m not good at
explaining music.

I would love to meet you in person and go to your show in Toronto (1989 World Tour)
next October 2nd or 3rd, 2015. I love to bake, and you love to bake, and we both have
cool recipes (but yours are much cooler than mine - that was a reference to lyrics
from We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together), maybe we could exchange recipes
someday. I have a really good recipe for butterscotch brownies that has been
passed down my family for a few generations.

I have an upcoming album release (small release, not going to stores because I have no record
label and I’m not very good - the album is just a CD I burned of me singing and at the moment
it’s only going to family members) and I can give you a copy if you want. It’s called Covers and
the deluxe one is Covers D.L.X., with me covering 9 of your songs in the regular album and 10 in
the deluxe album. I have been improving under the guidance of my aunt, who has taught me to
project my voice.

I will be over the moon if you notice this and reblog/reply, but I’d be even happier if you agreed
to meet your biggest Canadian fan (if you’re not sure yet who that is, it’s me). It would mean
the world to me if you - the person who taught me to shake off all the awful things that
happen, who has had such an influence on my life - would meet me. I know the chances are
slim, but you taught me that if you never give up, you’ll get what you wish for. Please make a 15
year old autistic Swiftie’s dream come true.

Thank you for making my life better with your music. Thank you for being such a fan-devoted,
kindhearted, amazing person. You are an inspiration!

Sincerely,
Royce Rivard

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