I think Denny hit it. Your problem was is misaligned or somehow screwed up linkage.

Glad it's working, but you need to know why it happened, or it may occur again, and strand you somewhere. Check out the shift linkage for slop and play. Maybe the bushings are worn. Have one guy under and one over to see what is not working like it should. Sometimes cars give you little warnings that something is about to go. If you ignore them it can bite you at the wrong time.

The other thought, get a good shifter, like Hurst, and convert to floor shift, unless you like the nostalgia of the three on the tree.

Don