Thank you very much for replying, I am really stressed. Let me try this again as I try to remember what I did!
After driving a few miles to filling station to top off air in tires, I returned home and backed into a slightly inclined drive with front in lower position facing street, I stepped on brake, put in park and turned off the ignition, and probably pulled up emergency brake, and took key out. When I got back in and went to start drive car again, I believe I started the car and went to put in drive, noticed the shifter was locked in park. I panicked but had read that this could happen. I think I got tool out to release the shifter which worked but noticed that when put back in park to start the ignition the key would now only turn on, but not rotate to the start position.to engage the starter.
I used another car with a rope from behind to pull slightly backwards to take strain off of transmission to release shifter handle but with no success. I had read that rocking might release parking handle.
Any ideas, or recommendations are really appreciated. I am 80 and am grateful for all the help that I can get. Thank you! and bless you.