It was a defense and is so not true - which will open me up to a lot of friendship possibilities that I had avoided. I can open up my heart a little more today. A lot of thanks goes to this forum and my apologies to any of you who were adopted and felt the sting.
A girl who grew up on my street who me and friends hung out with from seventh grade until I was out of high school was adopted but she didn’t know it. But we all knew. Her older sister was adopted too but the older sister knew they were both adopted.
Incidentally, the older sister was as good looking as any other girl in school but she was a “shy Di” type of girl and she was not popular. She wasn’t unpopular, she was quite likable and nice but she kept a low-profile. I don’t know if it she kept a low profile deliberately or if she didn’t have a choice. But I think of both of them every now and then.
Keeping a low profile might be smart - at least cautious. I wish I had considered that.