In this section, Khabbar looks into the Konkani community and anything and everything that is Konkani from a Konkani point of view. The names will never be published but geographic location will be identified in general terms.

Paying that dues to Khabbar is always an ongoing issue and case in point are two letters I got this quarter……

This family from Illinois writes, "Enclosed is my dues for this year 2000. This year I have decided to pay "Uncle Bhat" before paying "Uncle Sam"!".

This family from Nevada writes," Sorry for being so late. What excuse could I come up with? Let me think? Ho! I am busy. B.S. Don't tell that to V.B. He has taken care of himself in this competitive world, his wife and two kids, and then an extended family of Khabbar members scattered all over the world.

Say, it was a Y2K bug. Nae! U won't buy that either. U know my millions did not get stuck in the ATM either! Say I was sick! U know most of us R sick people most of the time (Those who forget to send the dues by Dec. 31st) So, U won't buy that either.

Let me say it was my job. U know most of us R unemployed from 5 PM to 8 AM. That excuse can only irritate U.
So, this time I can't even come up with an excuse that deserves your reading time. q

Give me a list of excuses U get all the time for failure to do a simple thing like this. I am sure some of those that U get R pretty good ones.

I don't know whom they R trying to fool. May B they have a confirmed notion that because U R doing this selfless service for so long, I am sure some of them say while eating breakfast on weekends, "Tey Vasanthaka pisse, kayee kama naa jayee monu Khabbar ghavnu bassala." When they give a stupid excuse, it may B the extension of their ingrained opinion that with U anything flies.

I couldn't come up with any excuse except that my wife didn't remind me. Thank God for wives. Without them, V would have been excuseless (not excuse free) most of the time. U can always blame them for our Follies, can't U?"

Note: The electronic version of Khabbar can be accessed by anybody by logging on to www.ekhabbar.com and hopefully do not have to worry about the dues! However, for families wanting the hard copy of Khabbar, there is a charge (see subscription form below)

Please visit the site at http://www.vi-jyot.com/konkani-net/howto.html