When the land line is a lifeline

When the land line is a lifeline

I was born in 1965. So yes, I do have a land line and like Clara Chow (Call Me, Call Me, On The Line, Life!, July 22), I have no intention of abandoning it any time soon.

My family had our first land line only when we moved to our first three-room HDB flat when I was 12.

I remember fighting over the phone with my sister when we were teenagers.

Now, my land line number is known only to family members and very close friends.

I use it to call my mother whenever I need help, be it in cooking, to check recipes, rant about my husband and children or just check on her.

I use it to call my daughter, who is studying overseas, when there is something important to tell or remind her.

It is an unspoken pact that when she sees the land line number on her mobile phone, she must pick up the call.

It is the same with my husband whenever he is overseas and my sister who is married with two active kids.

When the land line number appears, it has to be important and cannot be ignored.

And unreturned land line calls means something, someone is not well.

Karen Wong


This article was first published on July 26, 2014.
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