A Cloth Door - No More

Updated October 11, 2025

Sometimes, when I feel the need to retreat from the world, I find myself looking back at old blog entries. On this very rainy Saturday, I stumbled across one from October 2018, about two people I called Demetrius and Cecilia (not their real names). Their story is completely true, and I remember the interaction with perfect clarity.

I smiled as I read about the dignity and humanity of our time together. Then, tears came when I remembered that Cecilia lost her battle this past April, not to an overdose, but because, in the end, her body gave out. I attended her celebration of life service with family and friends who loved her so very much.

The war against addiction is real. The humanity of the situation is real. I pray that professionals who should know better will one day find a way to treat people battling addiction with the dignity, honor, respect, and love they deserve as the human beings they are and who are made in the image of God.

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I've shared with you from time to time the stories of Demetrius and Cecelia.  I first met this couple in July of 2016 when I started visiting Emerald City.  I've given them rides, gone out to eat and visited one of them in jail.  I've sat in the doorway of their tent.  I've come to know them for the people who they are and not for the disease they have endured.  Here's what I wrote about one such encounter:

As I drifted past the first tent quietly calling out "Bananas and water… Banana Man is here." I noticed a familiar blanket serving as a front door to a tent.  "Demetrius, are you in there?  His lady, Cecelia, opened the cloth door and peeked out with a smile.  We greeted each other as would any friends.  I mentioned the cloth door that I've come to know to be theirs from Emerald City.  She explained that they chose to move due to an increase in the rat population over there.  We chatted briefly as Demetrius slept on a mat in the tent a couple of feet away.

As of a couple weeks ago, Demetrius and Cecelia have moved on from Emerald City and their cloth door.  They live in an apartment with the help of some city programming and their own determination.  When I saw Demetrius yesterday, he said that they would like to have a housewarming party.  I asked him what they need most.  "Extension cords?"  His face beamed with that well known Demetrius smile.  "Yes!  Extension cords!  Man, you have no idea how badly we need extension cords!  The building is very old and has one plug in each room.  We really need extension cords!" 

And then Demetrius added this footnote:  "You can't imagine how fantastic it is to go from years of living in a tent to needing extension cords!!!"