Thanks so much for the good vibes!!

Dad called the well people on Friday and they were out that very same day.

The pump had indeed gone bad but rather than having to dig up the yard, they simply uncapped the well, and sent a device 75 feet down to retrieve the old pump.

They installed the new pump and told my parents to give it 48 hours before they drank any of the water.

Dad said when they first turned on the faucet the water was black from settled sediment.

The well people said they would bill them (didn't tell them how much it would cost - but dad suspects it won't be more than $800).

Dad asked how long pumps last and they told him 15 years tops. This well was installed over 20 years ago. So we got an additional 5 years or so out of it. Not bad.

As for dad's diabetes issue, it's not as severe as I thought. Mom told me he only has to check his blood sugar levels once a week and record it. He's been using his mom's machine as he doesn't have one of his own.

So other than him battling a flu right now, things are getting back to normal.