Windows Live Mail: after sending email, cannot reopen email account: dialog box says “Sending email…not connected” with one line showing email message sent, the other saying “executing”

After recovering mysteriously disappearing email messages through a five hour process, I would compose an email, send it, and then try to return to email home.  However, a dialog box would appear saying not connected, with one line below saying one message had been sent and another was being executed, with a spinning "eternal" circle that never goes away.  I then reboot and all seems well, except the process starts again as soon as I try to send another email.  I have tried suggestions in the forum, including repairing Windows 11 Essentials, and nothing changes.  I have never had this issue before.  DFK