Thanksgiving became a public holiday in 1863 when President Lincoln declared it so.

As I was reading leaves on a thankfulness tree last week, I was touched by the simplicity of what most of the people were grateful for. Not fancy cars, jewelry, money or fame, but sunshine, warm socks, being able to walk and having most of their own teeth.

This year, after you eat until your stomach is three times its normal size and you are lying around watching advertisements for things you don’t need, think about supporting preservation of some beautiful wilderness in your backyard: the Hoback Basin.

You all know the spot: As you’re traveling toward Pinedale and ascend the Rim, it is the pristine vista off to your right. Or, if you’re traveling toward Jackson, it’s the “awe moment” panorama you see as you make the sharp corner just past the Rim Station and head down the S-turns. In fact, if you are traveling too fast on that turn, you run the risk of viewing that bit of wildness up close and personal by flying off the road. Gravity could provide you a rude arrival into the Hoback Basin’s backcountry terra firma.

The future of the Hoback Basin as a virtually untrammeled haven is at risk because Plains Exploration and Production intends to drill for natural gas there. However, the save is in an agreement negotiated by the Trust for Public Land, working with partners Citizens for the Wyoming Range, Wyoming Outdoor Council, the Wilderness Society, American Rivers and PXP. The agreement allows the trust to purchase and permanently retire PXP’s oil and gas leases on 58,000 acres.

This is where you come in. As your belly is working on that turkey, let your brain work on the idea that for $38 you can buy back the lease on a quarter of an acre, for $75 half an acre and for only $150 an entire acre. Or you can buy back as many acres as you want. The good news is that the trust has until Dec. 31 to raise the money, so you can remain prone until your digestive juices have done their work. Then get up and go to your computer with your credit card in hand, log on and do something that will make a difference for generations to come. These also make Christmas and Hanukkah gifts!

Speaking of things that last, happy anniversary to Ingrid and Gary Shaw, who were married for 14 years yesterday, Cindy and Scott Zabriskie, who will have 23 years together on Sunday, Marsha and Scott Nickell, who celebrate their marriage of 26 years Nov. 29, and Barbara and John Simms, who will have been loving, honoring and obeying for 33 years on Sunday.

Marge Ryan was a guest at Birthday Club, which was hosted by Betty Cook and Ben Ferrin. High scorer was Hazel Halling. Low scorer was Dottie Waters.

The Presbyterian Church of Jackson Hole’s annual Christmas bazaar will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 1. There will be a great variety of crafts and vendors. Among the wares that will be for sale are hand-crafted chocolates, hair decorations, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, knitted and crocheted items, long underwear, native crafts, soaps, beauty products, wind chimes, pine wreaths, wooden bird houses and pottery.

Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase, so come and have coffee and a morning nosh while you survey the great array of wares. Just when all that shopping, viewing and thinking makes you feel a little tired, lunch will be served, and you’ll be able to complete your purchases while enjoying the live music in fine Christmas spirits.

There are a few booths remaining; call Jo Holton at 690-7219 or email disneyjo1@gmail.com.

Eunice Conine and Maura Harrington celebrate their birthdays on Nov. 21, Ned Pinkerton, Kelly Herman, Ridge Stradley and Shauna North celebrate theirs on Nov. 23, Warren VanGenderen, Laura DeAssis, Dave Sparks and Ruth Brewer celebrate respectively on Nov. 25, 26, 27 and 29. Nov. 30 is for Tom Windle, Neal Henderson, Samuel Zender and Claudia Schrotz.

A note to all you armchair columnists out there: Here’s a chance to see your byline in this august publication. Email 750 words of material suitable for “Circling the Square” to circlingthesquare@hotmail.com, or mail same to CtS, P.O. Box 1615, Jackson, WY 83001. Selected works will run complete with authors’ pictures. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 15.

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Ceci Clover writes weekly on the doings and doers in and around Jackson Hole. Send submissions to circlingthesquare@hotmail.com, or call 307-733-8348.