Hate Mail
“And the haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate hate….”
(Taylor Swift)
I received a really interesting note the other day. I’m immortalizing it here because it gives me a giggle every time I read it, and I don’t want to lose it. It reads:
“can`t you write SPANISH songs instead you stupid ratty old thing plus you are probaly 900,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,00,000,000,000,000 years old.”
My thoughts on reading this scholarly treatise:
“…great, great, great great, great, great, great….”
- Well done! Using commas to separate all those zeros! Give or take a few, it’s not a bad estimate.
- Good thing I don’t use my Facebook Yzma pictures here, or I’d have merited a few more commas.
- There are Spanish translations available though I don’t write them myself.
- If I did write Spanish lyrics, they’d be limited to foods and a song I learned in 7th grade about a cigar and a freight train.
- “Stupid ratty old thing”? I’m am sooooo out of the modern slang loop.
- Ahhhh the internet. Such a mannerly place.
The writer did list a name and e-mail, but since it probably belonged to someone else (a great way to troll your friends), I won’t include it. Just having this show up here will be all the reward the writer needs. (You’re welcome.)
Happy Monday!
Handy info…
Since you asked: How to Find Translations on This SiteFinding translations here is super easy. This is what you do: […]
Resizing Scores Using the Personal Composer DemoStep by step instructions on resizing scores or text using the Personal Composer demo. […]- Transposing Using Personal ComposerHow to transpose .pc scores using the Personal Composer Demo. Step by step instructions. […]
Oh Sally, I love you! You are truly an angel on earth! I stopped by this page on your site, just out of sheer curiosity, and haven’t laughed so hard in a very long time. I laughed so hard, I cried! Thank you for your wonderful response. I love your music, and am continually grateful for your generosity in sharing your talents and testimony with all of us. My son and daughter sang “Because He Lives” at their grandparents’ funeral. It was a perfect testimony of our Savior’s love for us at a time of great tragedy in our lives.
I have been asked to speak at a Relief Society conference about how the Savior strengthens me in coping with loss. I came looking for this song to share with them. I’m delighted that there is a Spanish translation as well, since we have a Spanish Branch in our stake. Thank you for making it so easy to use your works in sharing gospel light.
Sally, l think that troll does not listen to your music very well at all… when l play or sing it, it does wonderful things inside my Spirit and anything and everything just disappears as l immerse myself in the music….you have such a wonderful talent…thank you for sharing…
Don’t mind the haters. That ‘s Satan’s work
Can I join Club SROT?
Love your music, your sense of humor, all of you!! ❤️ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the world needs more of you.
Eh… you’re not ratty enough. We could make you an honorary member though…
Oh my! Glad you can laugh at such ridiculous comments. I love that you are free giving of your musical talents and gift and that you let all people share in it. Thanks for all you do to bear your testimony in song.
Hate mail is the worst. I commend your sense of humor in dealing with it, Sally. Being an online menace, if traceable, could actually harm someone’s professional life and market positioning. What a great way to start the week…
My dear music friend and sister,
My meager, but heartfelt “thank you” seems so inadequate in comparison to the generous gift you share with the world! As my Stake’s newest Music Chairman, I’m even more grateful for all of the beautiful music you have written and then share. This upcoming Sunday (1/28/18) will be a special Regional Stake Conference. I have asked my Ward Relief Society President to sing a solo. She chose “I have not seen, yet I believe,” and I have the privilege of accompanying her. So beautiful and so appropriate for this moment in time. You’re so wonderful! I pray you will ALWAYS be able to bless many lives with the language of the angels! God bless you, dear Sister DeFord!
Precious, precious comment! The insight of some people just leaves me breathless. Loved your response even more! Your music and your spirit are lighting the world; keep on shining!
Sally,
I love your beautiful music and use it with our Ward Choir all the time. Thank you for using your talent to help those of us that don’t have your gift to serve in our callings the best we can! Thank you!!!
“Iman, Iman! Donde esta, Iman?” is all I remember from 7th grade Spanish; since that was 50 years ago, I’m doing pretty well! My choir is always happy when I show up with a new Sally DeFord. Thanks for your testimony and your ministry.
Dear Sally!
I was introduced to your music by a friend a few years ago. I have used it extensively with my choir, the members of which love it as much as I do!
That email just demonstrates the evolutionary “backflips” that sadly sometimes occur in the human race!
Please keep on composing! We love your music down here in Aus – and despite all the claims to the contrary, we do speak English!
It’s obvious to me that the writer has never read any of the lyrics to your beautiful music, because if they did, they could never have written something so mean-spirited. Love your music and all that you do to help us church musicians bring the spirit into our meetings.
Sally, I can’t tell you how many members of our congregation have asked where I get such amazing “touch the core of the soul” songs (I’m the soloist on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings at a chapel). Please keep up the amazing “stupid ratty old thing” that you do. At 64 I’m even older than you are so there’s probably not enough space for all the zeros for “X” to describe me! Oh my, I guess the poor soul who wrote that obnoxious and laughable comment has issues. Serious issues. Know how loved and admired you are, Sally. There is no question as to the amount of admiration and gratitude we all have for you and your work.
Such an immature email! All of your creations are beautiful!
Dear Sally – I have loved to sing your music. Your songs are meaningful and passionate and create a moment every time. You have a gift that you share with love with the rest of the world. There are not enough compliments the rest of us can give. Thank you on behalf of all of us who have throughly enjoyed your music, singing them with our friends and family. I have a lifetime memories thanks to you. Thank you.
Thank you Keri for expressing so beautifully how we all feel about Sally’s music. I can’t imagine life without her music
So true
Lol! That gave me a good chuckle. Love your music.
Love your music Sally
I have lost track of how many spiritual experiences I have had while either singing your music or just listening to it! Thank you so so so much for sharing your talent! It is amazing!
Sally, What a tribute! You are, without a doubt, a woman I can really look up to and laugh with. Thank you for your post. It has given my “better half” and me the best chuckle of the day. And by the way, what about the 7th grade song regarding a cigar and a freight train? Apparently, this very OO-OO-LL-DD lady missed that one.
Love and hugs,
If I had a name and address I would be happy to send a troll doll. Love you and your music, beautiful lady.
There’s a thought! We could leave it in the writer’s shoe, so instead of an “Elf on the Shelf,” this writer could have a “Troll in the Sole…” 😉
Oh, I like that! By the way, we all also appreciate your sense of humor. 🙂
hilarious. I love how you always see the good in everything.
Just too funny.
Sally… your music is a real asset to our ward choir….
Thank You!!! For sharing your Talent!!😊
Comments like this still hurt, even if the writer obviously has the social skills of a rabid dog. Know there are a bi-jillion out here who so love both your music, and you for what you give to us. Hug!!!
You’re all so sweet! Thanks for the uplift today. Really, this one was just funny. I’ve had some others that aren’t so easily shaken off (<-- see what I did there?), so I go back to this one for the grins.
Hmmm… what’s up with my time stamp? Gotta check that out.
Your responded the way I thought you would. I have always admired you because of the beautiful and talented person I’ve always thought you were, and you just proved I was right to think as highly of you as I do.
I love you Sally, and miss you too.
oh and I would have made a request with a nice question not an insult. But that’s just me, I’m pretty old fashion too.
Love you back, my dear, old-fashioned friend! The world needs more lovely women like you!
Awww thanks my friend
I love your music Sally. They are uplifting and inspiring. Listening to your music inspires me to do better and understand my purpose here on earth.
Thank you for posting this so I can refute it. They probably don’t even use your site or songs. I do, and I am so very appreciative. Thank you!
Dear Sally, I can’t even begin to tell you how deeply grateful I am for you! Your music has produced the most memorable, sacred, fantastic Christmas and Easter sacrament meetings I have ever had the privilege of attending. I have used your music in the wards I’ve lived in for four years now and can’t thank you enough for your music!
What would we do without your “ratty old music?” Oh Sally, you could put that hate letter to music and have a lot of fun with it. Keep composing! We love you! And so does my choir!
I might try that! I don’t think I could do it any better than Taylor Swift though. 🙂
HOW RUDE ~ I love everything you share!!!!! There are always thorns among the roses.
Thanks for sharing. Made me giggle too. Some people have way too much spare time in their lives.
They are just jealous……everything about you is fabulous…..and as ward choir director for the last 3 1/2 years I am getting close to running out of your music to use…..which means I use it all the time…..you are just amazing!
i agree 1000% with all you said
I am my ward’s choir director. I love your music! I have used it for years & appreciate that I can find beautiful, uplifting & spiritual music to help bring the Spirit to our Sacrament meetings. Don’t be discouraged because some people express themselves in rude & ignorant ways. Everyone I know thinks you have a beautiful gift.
I love your music too. I use it a great deal. Continue sharing, I’d be lost without your musicianship.
Keep on truckin’, Sally! You are an awesome composer and rearranger! We all love what you so kindly and generously share with us.
Now, I LOVE your ‘ratty old songs’! I sing them all the time! I guess I’m a ratty old lady!
Thank you for your beautiful songs! I sing them in church, when I cantor, or lead song.
Please don’t stop composing!!!
Dear Sally: I thought nothing in this world could surprise me anymore, but I was wrong. I am shocked at that cruel and hateful email you received! You are an amazing composer and beyond generous. Our ward choir loves you and appreciates your talents and like Cheryl said, “your generosity of spirit.” You handled that “hater” very well!
Keep up the great work!
I love your sense of humor. Thankfully, you realize that the email does not reflect the many many gazillions (too many zeros for me to list here) of people who love your music – English, Spanish or otherwise. You ‘da best!
Yes, people can be so, well, “interesting” sometimes. Just imagine what people in the public spotlight must have to endure! For the rest of us, we appreciate your immense talent and your generosity in sharing your talents with us. I have sung 2 or 3 solos using your music and have also sung 4-6 mixed duet numbers. I just mentioned to our church organist yesterday that we may have to start looking for other well-written and inspirational music because we’ll eventually run out of yours. Either that, or start over and recycle the ones we’ve done already if you are unable to keep up with new material. 🙂 Thanks again for all you do. I know that our congregation enjoys your talent also.
So sorry not to be the ward choir director any more. I LOVE bringing your music to the congregation!
Obviously the writer was truly gifted in the language of English, spelling and manners—NOT! I’m sorry that people feel they need to vent that way. If they don’t like your music (which I do and use it) then simply don’t look at it! There, I’ve said my piece. A VERY HAPPY MONDAY AND EVERY DAY!
So many Sally de Ford favorites. So grateful for your talent and generosity.
Unbelievable!!! Well, I think they’re just jealous of your talent. Not everyone will applaud your merits…..but I am THRILLED that you continue to write these amazing songs and amazing arrangements. We LOVE LOVE LOVE you. We love you 900,000,000,000,000,000,000 bushels and pecks.
I had a bad week last week, and worse weekend. Some of it involved trolls, though most of it did not. You’re post just brightened my whole day. I happily join you in the “stupid ratty old thing” club. I can’t help with the Spanish stuff, but I’m very good at southern USA slang.
PS. I thought your message might announce some new song I could use for our next stake conference, but this is even better. Thanks!
Awww…. sorry you had a rough one! Trolls really don’t know the havoc they wreak on people sometimes. (Well, except this one… this one was just amusing.) Glad you’re joining me in the SROT club! 😉
I think your ENGLISH music is amazing. Keep writing.
Dear Sally – the music you compose and make available for people like me – the scores are beautiful and your generosity of spirit and of your talents is appreciated and noticed by many!!!!! Thank you for spreading the love and joy and beauty of Christ – and yes, Happy Monday!!!!!!!!!