Keeping a secret is tough enough. But after doing so for many years, older Americans may find it even tougher to let go...

A year or so ago, I signed up to receive email newsletters from AARP (American Association of Retired People). While I am not yet retired, I am old enough for them to know that retirement may not be too far off for me. Anyone over the age of fifty knows that the second you turn 50 years old, the AARP has your invitation in the mail to join. They start working on you, and don't give up easily either. These people are relentless!

Back to their newsletter. I swear, I need someone in the room with me when I am hacking away on the computer. They need to slap me silly every so often to remind me to stay on target. I do tend to drift off topic way too often. Now, about the AARP newsletter, it has not proved to be as relevant to me as I had thought that it would, so I rarely read it. Maybe that is good news?

When their latest newsletter hit my mailbox though, and I saw mention of keeping secrets my interest was peaked. Here is the article. Hmmm, I thought, secrets - adoption has to be part of any article about keeping secrets. As I began reading, the first secrets they discussed were Watergate secrets. However, I kept reading and voilą, adoption did surface.

'I gave a baby up for adoption decades and decades ago. Do I tell my current children that somewhere out there they have a half-sibling? Do I find that person or let that person know?' Often, they are very fearful of the ramifications of disclosure."

An online columist for the "Today Show" revealed that she often hears from old folks very conflicted about whether or not reveal a secret. Her example was the statement above.

To Be Continued.......................................