Thanks for your input. I just picked it up from the shop...they showed me the old steering column, and the shifter linkage tube/housing (I think that's what it's called) was broken right in the middle, it had been loose for a while, and did just like xlt4wd90 stated, wearing down other components.

Anyway, they said I will need a new shifter cable soon....um, why didn't they call me and tell me this while they were fixing it??? I'll just get my brother in law to help me with that, hopefully this isn't a really difficult job..