How do I open a folder marked exec?

I am not very good at computer skills, being self taught, and a senior citizen. I created lists of family dates etc. in Pages. Now on cover flow several of these are grey with exec in the top right hand corner. I have tried to open these without success, using all the ways I can think of. Could anyone please tell me if there is something I can do to open them, or are they lost, and if so, why? Any help you can offer would be gratefully received.