Thank you for the replies! My fuel lines were not leaking, but were petrified from the heat of the desert. I managed to get a new fuel pump from ETY parts in Eagle Rock, but unfortunately it is the 'short' version (when I picked it up yesterday they said it was the only listing they showed). If I had more time I would have waited for a longer pump from one of the mail-order companies, but I'm a little desperate with only a few days until I need to make the cross-country drive. I installed the pump yesterday, and although it is smushed against the coolant line, it works great. I eliminated the fuel return valve as many have suggested in other posts on the forum (I am running a weber 32/36 DGEV). I also replaced the fuel lines with new cloth-covered lines from Germany....no more auto-zone rubber that doesn't last.
The car started right up, and drove great from the desert back to Santa Monica. I have a spare coolant hose (just in case the close marriage with the fuel pump doesn't last). When I get to the east coast, I will get the longer version of the pump. Moral of the story is: when leaving an '02 parked outside for 4 months, give yourself more than 5 days to get it going again.
Best,
marc