Single at 42 | 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

42, single, and child-free by choice

Dear Uncle Gary I’m 42, single, and child-free by choice, but my family keeps treating me like I’m unfinished. How do I shut that down without burning bridges? Signed, 42 and single Dear 42 and Single, You’re not unfinished. You’re not waiting to be picked. You’re not a puzzle missing the “spouse and kids” corner piece. You’re a whole damn mural, and if your family can’t see that, it’s not because you’re incomplete. It’s because they’re looking through a lens that doesn’t fit