DEAR ABBY: Your advice to "Fed Up in Pittsburgh" was right on. It was the letter about the freeloading brother-in-law who wouldn't move out of his relatives' game room.
Twenty years ago, I too moved in with my brother and his family after my divorce. My brother assured me I could stay until I got back on my feet. I spent six weeks living there -- becoming more and more withdrawn in the process. Every night I'd come home from work and all I'd do is play with their kids.
Then one weekend my brother left town on business. When I came home that first night after he was gone, my sister-in-law met me at the door with the words, "I want you to move out." I assured her I would, as soon as I got an apartment. She said, "No, I mean RIGHT NOW."
I immediately packed a few things and went to stay with a friend. The next day, I started looking for a place of my own, and two days later I had an apartment. All my brother has ever known is that I moved out that weekend. I never told him why.
What my sister-in-law did was the best thing that could have happened to me; we are good friends to this day. Please tell "Fed Up" that maybe the brother-in-law needs a "kick start" like I did. -- GRATEFUL IN SASKATCHEWAN
DEAR GRATEFUL: A kick in the posterior can sometimes be a boost in the right direction.