Color label selection box in grid view dissappeared - Edit metadata dissappeared too?

This might be a bug?

I was using color labels to sort some pictures, and was using the box in the grid view to apply a color label to photos.  I went into the metadata window and  opened the 'Edit Metadata' window for the photo I was looking at...  I decided against doing anything and cancelled the action.  Upon returning to the library view, now the color label icon isn't showing, thus there is nothing to click on to change the color label in that view.  Mysteriously the grid cells now show some of the color label in the view.

Troubleshooting:

1) right-clicking on the image going to color label->(color choice works)

2) the color label choices are on the bar at the bottom.  They behave normally.

3)The other clickable items in the grid view (flag, rotate picture) work normally.

4) I tried exiting and restarting LC to return with the same situation.

5) I checked the forum, went to the view menu and the show rating footer is turned on.

I assume I'm in some weird mode that I don't know how to change, any ideas?  It's not a show stopper, but it does save me one click on every image.

Lightroom Classic version: 14.0.1 

Windows 11 Home 10.0.22621 Build 22621