Friendship Etiquette | Ask Uncle Gary

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Eleven Months Later

Altadena, CA. Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire carved its way through the foothills, the town is still living in its shadow. Eleven months sounds like enough time for life to snap back into place, but for many families, the calendar doesn’t match reality. People are still scattered across borrowed bedrooms, spare couches, and motel rooms that were never meant to be home. Entire neighborhoods feel like they’re holding their breath.

Dec 30, 2025

My friend has developed an off-putting habit

Dear Uncle Gary, I recently spent the day with a longtime friend I hadn’t seen in over a year. We attended university together, and he and his wife have just retired to Palm Springs, where I live. What was meant to be a pleasant reunion, golf, lunch, and drinks, quickly became uncomfortable. My friend has developed an off-putting habit: constant eye rubbing, nose picking, wiping mucus on his shirt, and picking at his ears. It continued throughout the day, on the green and at