Strange Problem Shifting?

[Hypnotic Toast]

I've got a '99 Ranger with an automatic transmission and it's developed a problem I've never run into before. At first it started when I would shift into park. I could take the key out and everything, but when I turn the ignition to start it again nothing happened. I'd have to fiddle with the gear shift for a little bit for it to want to start again.

Now it's gotten to the point to where it sometimes doesn't even want to shift into park and it, of course, won't start when it's there. I have to put it into neutral and keep the emergency brake on when I go places, because it won't start in any other gear. It starts right up in neutral, so I don't think I have any ignition problems.

And now I'm also able to shift all the way from left to right of all of my gears, Park to First, when the truck is off, which is something I was never able to do before and know you shouldn't be able to do.

I've read about some little piece in the steering column that could wear out and cause this problem, but I'm not sure. It still drives fine, all the gears work perfectly (except the starting problem with park) and it doesn't have any problem shifting.