A Halloween promise

Jenny Williams, left, and her sister Nadine Savage celebrate Halloween with extensive decorations in their home each year. Savage is a colon cancer survivor and says she'll continue to collect and celebrate her love for Halloween until the day she dies. Both ladies plan to dress as witches this Halloween. [Photo by Daniel Zollinger/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Nadine Savage made a promise to herself when she was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.

And she followed through with that promise this October by decorating the interior of her Mariyana Avenue home to the maximum with Halloween figurines and accessories. Porcelain witches line the mantel of her fire place and a patch of pumpkins rest on her dining room table as thoughtfully designed by Savage and her sister Jenny Williams.

Savage, an avid collector of Halloween figurines, promised herself she would “go all out” this year in terms of Halloween decorations, if she survived her life altering diagnosis.

Known as the “Halloween lady” by close friends and family members, Savage did little decorating last year when she underwent surgery to remove a portion of her colon.

Williams, Savage’s sister, scattered a few pumpkins throughout Savage’s home to cheer her up during her favorite holiday as she recovered from the surgery that saved her life.

But the decorations were sparse compared to previous years.’

“If I made it through the year, I was going to celebrate,” Savage said of her promise to herself. “ ... I got another chance at life and I’m going to enjoy it even more.”

A year later, Savage met her obligation by decorating her home with hundreds of witches, pumpkins, ghosts and goblins. In fact, Savage has specific areas devoted to each of these Halloween staples.

She owns 52 Halloween houses and 200 to 300 items total. As a gift, Williams gave her sister a home-made “witch chair” encrusted with beads and jewels to add to her collection. The chair used to belong to the women’s grandfather.

Williams said she was impressed with Savage’s attitude during her cancer treatment.

“She has the best attitude,” Williams said. “ ... She just doesn’t quit. I think that’s why she recovered.”

Savage has collected various Halloween decorations since her children were born some 30 years ago.

“I’ve loved Halloween all my life,” the Gallup native said.
Savage scours local shops for the newest holiday figurines and often orders from catalogs for the best merchandise. `

She particularly enjoys the holiday for its low stress atmosphere compared to the more celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

“Other holidays can be more stressful,” Savage said.

She also likes to dress up for the holiday. In previous years, she’s dressed as a pumpkin, Cleopatra and a hot dog. But this year, she and her sister will go as witches.

The pair plans to host a party for family who will snack on popcorn balls and caramel apples made by the sisters.

Savage still undergoes routine check-ups to ensure she is in good health, but despite the situation, she always maintains a positive attitude.

“You just go one day at a time, that’s all you can do,” she said with a smile.