Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and nurse.

Her career started back in the early 1920s; she became a successful jazz and blues recording artist, being critically acclaimed to the ranks of Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith.

In the 1950s, she retired from performing and entered the medical field, only to successfully resume her singing career in her eighties.

Erica Jong (née Mann; born March 26, 1942) is an American author and teacher. She is better known for her fiction and poetry than her other works.

A 1963 graduate of Barnard College, and with an M.A. in 18th century English Literature from Columbia University (1965).

Jong is best known for her first novel, Fear of Flying (1973), which created a sensation with its frank treatment of a woman's sexual desires.

Agnes Campbell Macphail (March 24, 1890 – February 13, 1954) was the first woman to be elected to the Canadian House of Commons, and one of the first two women elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

Active throughout her life in progressive Canadian politics, Macphail worked for two separate parties and promoted her ideas through column-writing, activist organizing, and legislation.

Susan notes: this is a lovely story, though I have no way of knowing whether it’s true or not. Several Internet searches proved futile in confirming it’s veracity. But it’s so sweet that I’m posting it anyway.

This piece is dedicated to George (pictured at right) and Jeffrey (pets of my friends Holly and Janice respectively), who both passed on to pet heaven.