Why I Absolutely Can’t Stand Halloween (And What It Says About Us)

As a chef battling sarcoidosis and heart failure, debris from a life that refuses to behave, I’m here to tell you why Halloween — creepy skeletons, gore-fest lawns, serial-killer mannequin dioramas and all — feels wrong in a way that psychology backs up. If you’ve ever felt alienated by the “fun” of Halloween or want to understand why it grates on your nerves (and mine), read on for a mix of sarcasm, heart, and insight into fear, ritual and chronic illness living.