After setting optimal row height, columns A-C are gray

I have (had?) active columns A-N, and I used the optimal row height. Upon closing that, columns A-C were suddenly gray, and could not be edited, nor could the cursor be placed upon them, either with the mouse or with the arrow keys.

What do the gray columns mean? How did I get them gray? How can I ungray them again? Please SOMEONE answer ASAP!