Thanks again HumTech for the details. I am on the way outside in the next couple of minutes to work on the problem...just waiting for the truck to warm up first and get some heat inside since it's a cold and cloudy day here in the Northeast.
I fully expect my key to be stuck in the ignition today before finally getting the problem fixed, so if you can remember how to get to the "interlock switch" on the steering column, that would be great. For instance, do I have to pull apart my steering column, or is somewhere under the dash?