By Emma Ockerman, Detroit Free Press Special Writer

When Michelle Smith dropped her son's letter to Santa Claus at the Lowell post office a day after Thanksgiving — no postage included — she hardly expected a response from the big man in red.

But a month later, her 7-year-old son, Adam, had a handwritten letter waiting for him in the family's Lowell mailbox, letting him know the North Pole had indeed received his message, and was able to answer his very specific questions.

"I had completely forgotten he had written the letter," said Smith, 45, of Lowell. "I think I was more surprised and blown away than he was; it was a very extensive letter."

Adam wanted to ask Santa just how he managed to wiggle down the family's chimney each year, and even began the letter by asking how Santa's Thanksgiving had been. The letter he received back was pages long, fueling his belief that Santa exists and has been listening to each child's wishes and inquiries all along, Smith said.

Santa told Adam in the letter that the North Pole didn't have a Thanksgiving holiday, though he is "thankful for everything we have."

Santa also wrote an extensive history as to why he used the chimney as his mode of transportation into children's living rooms. He said he used to go through the small metal coal stove that would heat homes 200 years ago, by way of magic dust.

When homes switched to furnaces, Santa said he had to change his formula.

Santa even mentioned he was "checking in to" the Lego sets Adam and his 4-year-old brother, Stephen, had wanted, signing the letter with, "See you on Christmas Eve! Love, Santa."

Smith said she was touched, but wondered who at the post office took the time to respond to Adam. She is planning to write a thank-you letter to the post office's manager, she said, though she hasn't heard of any other local families receiving a similar letter.

"I want them to know it's appreciated," Smith said. "For little kids, this is a huge deal."

Adam has been carrying around his letter from Santa ever since.

Sue Dombrowski, a supervisor with the Lowell post office, 120 N. Broadway St., said she couldn't reveal the name behind the office's famed Santa — but said the anonymous postal carrier has been replying to Lowell children's letters to Santa since 1993.

"He's kindhearted, he's been doing it for years," Dombrowski said.

Dombrowski said the office responds to more than 30 letters a year. Smith's letter was addressed from #1 Candy Cane Lane, North Pole to "Masters Adam and Stephen."

The letters, which are detailed to answer each child's specific question and written in elaborate print, are just something Lowell's Santa makes time for.

This isn't the first Christmas deed Lowell has seen this month, Dombowski added. Lowell police officers pulled over unsuspecting drivers for minor traffic offenses and asked them what they wanted for Christmas, and then presented them with the wrapped gift within 15 minutes. Some of the drivers were granted Xbox gaming systems and laptop computers.

A video made by the City of Lowell of the event garnered close to 4 million views on YouTube.

Dombrowski said that letters from local children frequently end with "I love you" and have "cute pictures drawn on them." Responding to them has been a pleasure for Santa, she said.

Smith is just happy she chose to send Adam's letter out this year, as she usually keeps the "adorable" letters from her six children.

"They keep it quiet from everybody," Dombrowski said of the effort from the postal Santa. "It's kind of a work of love."