Where do all the wishes go? Like the sweet “I deserve this because I’ve been trying so hard to be good” and the raw “I’m ready to receive my Lego fortress now”? Or the detailed “I did this and this and this during the year” and the inquisitional “Tell me about the reindeer and Mrs. Claus and the North Pole”?

They once went to the local post offices and stayed there. With postage, without, or with a stamp drawn in the corner, there the letters to Santa were placed in a stack for special attention. Local postmasters would then help coordinate volunteer response letters to those with return addresses, and often organize teams of wish-granters from within and out of the office.

Monterey Postmaster Frank Ledesma would even personalize responses with help from his mail-carrying elves. “We’d check the return addresses and talk to our handlers on that route,” he says. “They’d say, ‘I know this kid, he’s always outside,’ and we’d write back ‘I hear you like to ride your bike up and down the street’—make it as personal as possible so they know Santa is watching.”

Some offices, like Seaside Postmaster Amy Holloway’s, would organize committees “to get together and try to fulfill wishes.”

And they still do. “We still respond to some Santa letters and try to help needy families,” Holloway says. “Our office likes to sponsor a family.”

But today most of the Santa compassion has become centralized—local carriers send almost all of their Santa letters to regional postal centers in San Jose and Oakland.

The Weekly traced some Christmas wishes back to the San Jose Post Office—and to customer service rep Susan Anderson (no relation), the head elf who has managed the treasure trove of Santa letters from around Monterey County and beyond for a decade.

Anderson directs wish traffic at so-called “Santa Central” with a natural benevolence and a conspiratorial sense of humor, distributing letters with return addresses to different schools, churches and community groups who enjoy playing Santa—and very much enjoying all the gems she gets to inspect.

“The stress letters are funny,” she says. “‘Dear Santa, I’m going to England, can you come early?’ or ‘I don’t have a fireplace—can you use the vent?’ If they don’t have a chimney, that’s a stress for a kid under 10.”

She indexes other recent favorites easily. “One girl listed 143 items, and numbered every one of them. It filled five pages of binder paper on both sides. You could see where she had to switch pens, probably late at night dreaming of every item she wanted—including a whole series of books: Good Girls Guide To Manage Boys, Good Girls Guide To Sticky Situations…”

Anderson has shared some of her favorites with the Weekly. Because none had return addresses, these letters won’t receive a reply. But fortunately the powerful holiday spirit conjured by their inspiring innocence and comedic candor won’t go lost.

—Mark C. Anderson

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Dear Santa Claus,
My brother Arthur says there is no Santa Claus and I am wasting my time writing to you. I know you are really and truly you. I would like you to bring me some ice skates and a new teddy bear kause my old bear Harold has a worn out belly. And anything else you think a good little girl would like.
Love, Angel Lawrence

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Dear Santa,
The only thing I would like from you is a motorized dirt bike size 70. I am in fourth grade. I live in Santa Clara California. I have asked for a dirt bike before but I got a bike that goes on dirt. So this year I hope it would be different.

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Dear Santa Claus,
Thank you fou the nice ice skates and fou the new fuzzy coat for Herold and the truly you thing. I knew you were really and truly you cause Arthur is wrong lots of times.

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Dear Santa,
My name is Joceline. I want to aske you how many riandeers are in the North Pole? I want to know becose I like riandeers. And I want to aske you anotner question. Can you bring a little pet shop toy? I want it to be a donkey with a playground and I want a swing, slid, and monkey bars. I want 3 monkeys. It has a little pink bow on one and another just normal and the last one is normal to.

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Dear Santa Clause,
I want a flat panel TW. A record that has the songs Rudolph the red nose reindeer and a christmas tree and gingle bells. Please can you give me your e mail address and if you have time can you give me another bird the one you gave me last year we named Flip is she a girl or a boy if Flip is a girl please give me a boy and if flip is a boy please give me a girl. When are you going to get your christmas tree? We are going to get ours on December 9, 2006.
Alexander

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Dear Santa,
I want good grades and my family to get along better but my aunt is so mean to me and she always gets into everything that happens. I just wanted to know if I’m on the naughty or nice list. I do try to be good but sometimes I get so mad and con’t control it.
Sincerely,
Debbie
love always!
Love,
Joceline

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Dear Santa,
Can you come early to our house? Please? Mommy wants a punching bag. I would like rollar skates. Daddy wants a Christmas vacation and a candy cane.
Love,
Arika

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To Santa Claus,
I want for Christmas is a happy Christmas. I love you Santa Claus. You rock. You give us free stuff. You are in my good list and I will give you milk and cookies for you.
From,
Inez
Love,
Angel Lawrence

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Dear Santa and Santa’s Helpers.
I am 8 years old and I still suck my thumb. I tried everything and nothing works. Can you please please help me stop. I’ve tried so hard, but just can’t do it on my own. This will be my Christmas wish. I hope you get my letter. You have given everything I have wanted so please can you give me this wish.
thank you
love
Sasha
Age 8

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Dear Santa Claus,
I have been good and I was wondering if you coud make it that I can sleep in every day. I would also like a cristle growing kit or a chemistry kit. That would be really good. Tell out elvs I said hi! Oh! and I was wondering if you coud make it that everyone believes in you because I know you are real just I whant every to know that too.
Thank You,
Juliet

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Dear Santa Clause,
Santa this letter goes straight to you. The thing I want most for christmas is a healthy baby brother. I know this is after christmas but please. My list is:
earrings
cellphone (please)
jean jacket
a shirt that says “My Brother did it”
computer game “Thrillvile”
a real microphone
Headphones that have both sides working
an everlasting sour ball
American girl doll
Fairy globe
3 new posters
Fairy pictures with frame
stuffed animal, white tiger
stuffed animal, Horse
Thanks Santa
Love Mickey

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Dear Santa;
how are you? Im grat. I haven’t writen to you in years. I have a problem most of the kids in my class thik that there Moms and Dads put the candy in the stocking and one toy on the gorund. so are they good or bad? how is miss claus? good news me and Danny believe in you still. I am 11 how old are you? How are the randeer? have I’ve Bin good this year?
Your firend,
Deanna
PS: Write Back.
HO! HO! HO!

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Dear Santa Claus,
Hi my name is Selena Soberal and I am 11 years old. My little brother Sergio Soberal is 6 years old. This year we both want the same gift. This year we both would love to have a golden retriever but if not a golden retriever a puppy that looks like Chewbacca from Star War. We don’t want a toy dog we want a real dog. Thank you so much for all of the gifts in the past. Thay have all been completly awesome. Thanks for everything.
Sincerely,
Selena S. & Sergio

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Dear Santa,
This year I am in the fifth grade which means I am 10 years old. I know I haven’t been the nicest girl this year, But before we get to that I want to ask you some questions. How is everything this year at the North Pole? Are you ready for Christmas? How is Mrs. Clause? Like I said I haven’t been very nice but the only reason is because my sisters antagonize me, and I get mad. Like when Hillary and Amy beat me up. This year if you decide to bring me anything I would mostly like a digital camera with a big screen. Also I’d like Digi Makeover to go with my camera. The last thing I would like is my own bed. I know it is a lot to ask for but please try to bring the above.
Love,
Allyson
P.S. A Nintendo D.S. would be appreciated.
P.P.S. Please write back and leave your letter by your cookie plate!

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Dear Santa,
How are you and the elves doing? Does Mrs. Claus bake candy? Can reindear talk to humans? I am now 7 years old. I am in the 2nd grade. This is what I would like for Christmas polly pockets, a Bratz cyber laptop, and games for our gameboy. My sisters aren’t so nice to each other. I have been good most of the time.
from,
Amy
p.s. If you can I want a perl pink game boy.

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Dear Santa Claus,
How has your off-season been? Did you vacation in the south pole? I hope everything at the North Pole is okay. Everything here in California is good. My name is Hillary and I will be 13 in 32 days. I have been mostly good this year, but I get a little attitude sometimes. Even though I get a little cranky I do not mean to be mean to my family. For Christmas this year I would really appreciate a Mint Green Verison Wireless cell phone. Please may it include text messaging and a camera. Even though my mom says, “who do I have to call.” I really want one.
Santa please help everyone with having a good Christmas.
Love,
Hillary Hughes
P.S. I ask for snow every year.
P.P.S. Merry Christmas!
P.P.P.S. And a Happy New Year!

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Dear Santa Claus,
I am good at home because I shared toys with my sister. I also eat what my mom cooks. I paint pictures for my sister. I play with my sister when she wants to play.
Love,
Alice

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Dear Santa,
I have been a very good girl. So its o.k. to give me gifts, but maybe my brothers won’t get presents. I like that idea! My mom has my big list. What kind of cookies do you want? Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!
Love,
Allyson

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Dear Santa Clause,
I am Ramnique. I am 9 years old. I goto 4th grade. I do a lot of work. I really want to have real twins as baby brothers I have been begging so much. If you could help me please give me twins as baby brothers. I will take good care of them. Oh ya I also have a sister who is 7 years old in 2nd grade. She could help me with my brothers (twins). I also want to be an expert at piano and please can you get me one piano too. I would be very happy if you could give these things to me. I have secret I bleive in you and in Chistmas.

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Dear Santa,
I realy want an Nintendo DS. But I realy want my cat to come back. I don’t know were he is and I miss him soooo much. If he was back I would be so happy! Could you get him in a present for me pleas? Sylvester (Silly) was my cat and I pray for him every night. But he just won’t come home. I cry and I cry and he still won’t come home.
Love,
Leah M. Lux
P.S. Thank you for the presents last year. I love them. Just one more favor pleas bring my cat home. Thank you!

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Dear Santa,
How are you? I hope you are well. I am fine I’m in my first play this year. I’m a cow. A kid named Raymond is my owner. He is nice. I wrote two books this year “Winx Elementry” and “The Blue Bookmark.” I will leave you one of them on Christmas. I love the bike from 2 years ago! This year for Christmas I would like things from P.B. teen. I’d like a Happy Dot Rug, twisted Orange Curtain, Pink Bubble Bedding, Choclate brown Lux Fur B-Bag and a Pink Bubble pillow. I also would like to be in another play.
Love,
Lea
P.S. I would also like a pink I-pod.

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