I took a three- or four-week break from blogging in June. While I disappeared from the blogosphere, I learned some things. Here are 15 of them:

• I learned that I can still get lost in reading a book when I’m not trying to blog five or six days a week. I hadn’t read a complete novel in months!

• I learned that it was time for me to take a step back and work to get my life under control.

• I learned that depression is not an unusual occurrence in writers and other creative people, and I learned why I am the way I am.

• I learned that depression can be addressed when you have a caring primary care physician who truly wants the best for you.

• I learned that people are very forgiving when they know you have a problem.

• I learned that I’m a happier person now that I don’t dwell on what Donald Trump is doing. I’m still keeping up, but I’m limiting how much TV news I watch.

• I learned that there is a support group for former Trump supporters who leave MAGA. It’s a real thing. Who knew? If you are finally seeing Trump for what he is, you can find a support community at leavingmaga.org.

• I was reminded that Trump doesn’t know the difference between socialism and communism.

• I was reminded to be thankful I don’t live in Texas. That state legislature is trying to out-do ours in North Carolina. Tell me again, Texas, where Jesus said the government should beat school children over the head with the Bible. I can’t find that verse.

• I think we all learned that hydrogen peroxide kills ducks and can strip American Flag Blue paint off the bottom of a reflecting pool.

• I think we all learned that it’s foolish, short-sighted, and illegal to give someone a $13 million government contract without going out for competitive bids. (As a former government employee, I already knew that, of course. That’s Public Administration 101 – in addition to being common sense. This is what you get when you put “a businessman” with no experience in government, no knowledge of government, and a total disregard for the rule of law in the White House.)

• I learned that listening to music is better than watching TV late at night – and most anytime, for that matter.

• I learned that a buck can be mean to a pregnant doe and prevent her from eating the corn you put in the backyard for them to eat so they’d stop eating the shrubbery. That buck doesn’t want any does to eat. I’ve named him Bucky Trump.

• I learned that rabbits are brave little creatures who are not afraid to eat at the feet of deer. They obviously know that North Carolina is a “stand your ground” state.

• I learned that when four rabbits organize themselves, they can scare Bucky Trump away from the corn! (Members of Congress, take note!)

I learned a lot in June!

Last week I learned that when a fawn runs away from its mother, Mama Deer will look for her fawn 24/7 to the point of exhaustion. I’m happy to report that a couple of days later, they had reunited and came into our backyard again.

Between the World Cup (¡Muchas felicitaciones, España!) and the wildlife, it has been an entertaining summer so far. It has been sprinkled with thunderstorms, power outages, fried computer speakers, and a fried modem.

There are also daily prayers for our U.S. military personnel in harm’s way in the Middle East and prayers for the people of Ukraine.

Janet