The year was 1996. Many of my friends were home visiting from college on their Thanksgiving breaks. The Notebook was one of the best selling books and was not yet made into a movie. Bill Clinton was President of the United States. No Diggity from BLACKstreet could be heard on car stereos and in dance clubs all over town. I was 8 months pregnant and at home on permanent bed rest due to an extreme case of toxemia.