For as long as I can remember, I’ve never wanted to look at dead bodies. But after spending some time in Calcutta in the mid-seventies stepping over dead people on the footpaths and watching bodies burning on the cremation ghats in Varanasi, I started stealing furtive glances at the dead bodies during the funeral services for friends and family members. After receiving an invitation to my first costume Halloween party, I decided to dress as a Varanasi cremation ghat instead of a cowboy or magician.

This episode is also available as a blog post at drinkingwithflies.wordpress.com