My sister Teresa began...

"Eric...Luigi...I could never get used to Eric. Do you know what it was like for us when you changed your name? Do you know how it felt? Well, I'll tell you. It felt like you were ashamed of us, all of us. It felt like you wished you'd been born into some WASPy family in Connecticut, instead of a fishing town in Rhode Island. It felt like everything-- every time you and I had fun, you wanted to just erase it, and pretend I wasn't your sister. It felt like you had no interest in my life. And it still feels like that. Your nephew and niece don't even know you, they don't even ask about you, they think you're a cousin or some in-law. They feel like I do, like Mama and Papa and John do-- you don't care about us. And you know the strangest thing of all, Luigi? We do. We still do. We love you , we always loved you and always will. No matter what you do, or how much you hurt us-- we love you."

John, my kid brother took over...

"Speak for yourself, Teresa. I don't know how I feel about Luigi anymore. Man, I almost died last year in that car accident, I almost died! Where were you? I called your house and thank God for Andrew, he was there and told me you were in San Francisco for a seminar...he said you were under a lot of pressure. Were you, Luigi? Or were you just screwing some guy behind Andrew's back? Well, you know what? I felt like that guy. I felt like you were screwing me-- I was dying there for a minute, man and you couldn't stop for a second and call me to see if I was gonna make it. You're my brother, Luigi. You're my brother! We spent every summer together since I can remember, at the beach, going to the amusement parks, driving Mom and Pop crazy...Aw, hell...Teresa's right, I guess. I do still love you, I do. I don't know why, but I love you."

Rebecca started after we all cried quietly for a few seconds-- which to me-- felt like minutes. "Well, Eric, you and I don't go that far back, do we? But far enough. Far enough for me to date you! Far enough for you to lie to me and to Andrew. For you to tell me you were straight, and that you were getting out of a nasty relationship, for you to convince me that the trip to San Francisco was a good idea. Eric-- we're talking about a crisis here. We're talking about getting you help, so no one else gets hurt by you. Look around you, Eric. Your friends, your family the most important people in your life. We all share an equal goal. Even my father, even my father, your boss-- he knows. I told him everything and he's fine with it, he believes in your talent as a surgeon. In his bizarre way, my father loves you too, Eric. We all love you. We all want you to become a better person. That's what we want, and I'm sure that's what you want, too."

Papa took Rebecca's place in my intervention...

"I can't talk, Luigi. I can't say anything, I'll let Mama speak...she's always been so much better than me at talking. But Luigi, Luigi, I love you. I look around this room and see all these fine people, all wanting to help you. I'm so proud of you, boy. I'm proud of where you have come, but I'm worried too. I'm afraid you'll destroy your relationship with Andrew, I'm afraid you'll destroy yourself...I'm afraid Luigi, that's all..."

Papa started crying-- which upset us all very much. I looked at them all. I still had few to go...I still had Mama to go...and Andrew...

I still had to hear from Andrew.