Reverse light wackiness

Strangest thing is happening... MY reverse lights won't activate until I travel through neutral. For example:

Start to finish (top to bottom)
Park - normal
Reverse - no lights
Neutral - lights
Drive - normal

Now in the opposite direction
Drive - normal
Neutral - lights
Reverse - normal (lights on)
Park - normal

Remember, I'm talking about my REVERSE (the white) lights here... The workaround is to shift into neutral before going reverse from park (drive-to-reverse shifting works normally)

Obviously something is out of adjustment. Any ideas?

Semper fi.

On a '97 the Backup Light switch is in a component located on the side of the transmission where the shift linkage goes inside the trans. The component (it was not named in the factory service manuals) contains the Reverse light switch and Park/Neutral position switch too.
Replacement looks like a 2 bolt job after removing the shift cable and shift arm but it might not be easy to find this component at any auto parts store. You might try moving the shifter back up toward the dash a bit after putting it into neutral.