xfce4-panel (4.18.1) unable to execute commands
folks, using mx-linux 'wildflower' to learn Python. everything running fine for past 6mos - now xfce4-panel opens, mouse cursor moves, can select an item off the taskbar --> but nothing executes. i have tried ctl-alt-t to open a terminal and i get a terminal, but past that i don't know how to 're-connect' the panel to execute it's icons. and yes, my language might indicate i am a newbie, but i do install the updates presented by mx-linux and i seem to recall that the system has been operating oddly for the past 2 weeks. can someone suggest some data gathering so i can specify the problem more clearly?
i have firefox/thunderbird/pycharm installed - but pretty much everything else is what comes with the basic mx-linux install. all of this stuff is on the panel, all open, none execute. to shut down linux i have to do that by pressing 'power off' on the laptop and that pops up the 'restart/etc/etc' dialogue box and i select the power-off option. thanks for any/all suggestions [except suggesting i go back to windows], ron