45 Comments
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Jack Dixon's avatar

Such beautiful writing. You paint such a vivid picture I can’t help but feeling like I’m living within the imagery you describe. I enjoyed every word of this piece. Thanks for sharing your work brother.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thanks Jack. Working on creating an aesthetic experience through writing. Feel like I overdo it a bit sometimes.

But really glad you enjoyed. Appreciate you always supporting my work :)

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Justin Kamm's avatar

☝🏽

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Rick Lewis's avatar

This is like a well-prepared reduction sauce, with the careful and precise essential elements of winter having been boiled down to a rich assault on my senses. You may have just single-handedly reset my system to the proper rhythm of the season.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Haha this is an awesome comment Rick. Love it.

“Rich assault on my senses” is beautiful. Essay worthy!

Hope you have a lovely December weekend over on the west coast

Appreciate you reading (:

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Gabriella A. Edwards's avatar

Such a warm and cozy post! Your romanticizing of winter is so beautiful, gets me excited for the season I so often dread!🥶

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thanks Gabriella!! I try to romanticize it or I hate it haha. Certainly the cold wears on us but I’m trying to look for beauty, wherever I can find it.

Hope you’re having a lovely December weekend (:

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Steven Foster's avatar

Beautiful piece Tommy. And just wait until you have a toddler.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thank you Steven. Means a lot coming from you with how beautiful your writing is.

Point taken haha. I was talking with an older Dutch man who told me his toddler used to run up to him and peel his eyelids back when he tried to meditate.

Parenting is an act of selflessness, no doubt.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

A beautiful poetic piece Tommy, loved every word.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Anna! Thank you so much :) means a lot coming from you

Hope you have a lovely December weekend

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Anfaal Batool's avatar

I really enjoyed reading it. I could envision and enjoy every moment throughout my reading experience.

Really blessed to you as a writer.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thanks so much Anfaal! Really appreciate you reading and the kind words. Made my day.

And I’m glad you could feel that experience vicariously. Music to any writer’s ears :)

Hope you’re having a lovely weekend

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Anderson II's avatar

Stunning words and images once again. What a peaceful life it sounds like. I need to visit Toronto again!

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thanks Anderson! Appreciate you reading.

Peaceful is certainly what I strive towards. I miss the mark some days, but I try.

Hope you have a great December weekend (:

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Bennett Jacobs's avatar

Such a warm and inviting essay, I loved this one Tommy! You've got me looking forward to Winter more than I usually do! I think its time to buy a few more candles

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Haha thanks so much Bennett :) glad you enjoyed it

Winter can be tough sometimes but always what I make it

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Kevin M's avatar

Yes! There is nothing quite like the candles glow to create a peaceful, calm environment.

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

...living in oakland where winter just means more layers yet even here the tingling sensation of another coming of the season is present...that said i miss the ice skates and house bars holding hockey hangouts...great way to set the mood good writer...keep 'em coming...

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

CansaFis! So good to hear from you man & thank you for reading (: means a lot

Where do you miss hockey from? Somewhere you lived before Oakland?

Appreciate the encouragement. Needed today. One of those days where I wonder why I write at all.

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

in fake canada [minnesota]...and schooled/punked in not canada at all [chicago]...all of this of course after learning where i never want to live again in absolutely positively no canada [cincinatti]...we still get hockey here in oakland it's just a 75 minute drive to the most icey of california cities, san jose [willing to trade for toronto with canada for this one]...

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Haha Minnesota is a lot further north than Toronto!

Sounds like you’ve gotten quite the interesting cross section of different areas to live in the US. I’d have a hard time choosing there to go. In Canada there’s pretty much only 4-5 options

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

...the answer is always to the rivers, then the lakes, and to sleep in the woods...

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

ah I love it

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CansaFis Foote's avatar

...there is also the option of following my schoolboy mantra...follow the dinging dong of the taco bell...

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Rachel's avatar

Tommy,

What a beautiful piece of writing. As I was reading this, I kept looking for when you were going to say “and this was written by some great, famous author”.

My favourite part: “I remember how much I like homemade hot chocolate, and how people smile on the subway, and hockey games, and board games, and 1,000 piece puzzles, and thick socks, and thicker blankets, and my favorite fleece I forgot I owned, and ice skates, and curling up in an armchair to read everything I haven’t gotten around to, and gingerbread, and bundling up, and dressing down, and conversations that carry dusk into dawn”. This brought such a smile to my face. Winter can be dreadful, but you’re right, there are so many wonderful things that come out at this time that need to be appreciated more. And of course the fact that we are able to relate to Northern Attitude because of it. God that’s a great song.

I love your mention to Anne Frank at the beginning. I have just started watching a show called “A Small Light” on Disney +. If you have not yet watched it, I highly, highly recommend you do. It is such a beautiful story and one of the best shows I have ever seen.

I hope you are enjoying your time being back at home, it can be very bittersweet after some time away.

I cannot wait to read what your mind conjures next week,

Rachel

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Rachel!

Thanks so much for the kind note. I’m so glad it resonated with you. It’s hard to balance those vivid descriptions without overdoing it.

Winter can be dreadful indeed. I’m trying more and more to look for the beauty. I think it’s especially important in cold dark months when it feels like there’s little to be found.

Surprisingly, northern attitude was my most listened to song last year. I want to learn it on guitar some day.

I’ll try to check out the show! Thanks for the recommendation.

Thank you for the welcome home. It can be bittersweet for sure. The duality of being homesick is frustratingly true.

Hope you have a great week (: thanks again for the note

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Becky Isjwara's avatar

I've got a whole morning-themed essay drafted around that Simon Sarris tweet. It's a good one.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

oooh can't wait (:

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Becky Isjwara's avatar

Oh whoops, meant to say that the TWEET is a good one. my essay is... so-so and therefore it shall remain in the drafts until I find the missing piece that could give it an oomph :)

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

happy to lend feedback if helpful :)

and don't be silly - your essays are GREAT

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Diana Demco's avatar

It was a delight reading this. Winter has its magic too, we just have to see it.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thank you so much Diana. Really appreciate you reading & taking the time to leave such a kind message.

I completely agree. There’s handprints of wonder in every season, only if we make the effort to look.

Hope you have a lovely December weekend (:

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Kevin M's avatar

Great read, my friend. I was drinking that coffee with you, getting that cold air into my lungs, looking at those bare trees. You sound content. Thanks for sharing. 👏✍️

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Thank you Kevin :) I’m so happy it resonated. And content is a great way of putting it. Think I get closer to contentment with each passing day.

Hope you’re having a lovely weekend

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Emma Dorge's avatar

Also in the .05 for Noah, Spotify called me a Vampire, too. Great essay once again 💯

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Hahaha love it Emma. Appreciate you reading :) You know what they say about great minds...

Hope you have a lovely weekend

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Jeff Giesea's avatar

Your imagery oozes coziness. Thank you.

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Jeff! Thank you so much for reading and the kind words. Brought a smile to my face.

Hope you have a lovely December weekend (:

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Justin Kamm's avatar

We entertain very similar mornings Tommy ☺️

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Tommy Dixon's avatar

Justin! Thanks so much for reading & really appreciate the kind words.

Glad to hear it resonated. Morning rituals certainly can be sacred :)

Hope you have a lovely weekend

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