Casting pairs of floating point variables as a point in plpgsql

I have a zip code database which includes pairs of floting point
numbers representing latitude and longitude.  I can retieve this data
with the following query:


Declare 
m_zip_info1 char(5);
m_zip_info2 char(5);
m_miles integer;
m_zipcode char(5) := ''60076'';

Begin

select logitude, latitude into m_zip_info1, m_zip_info2    from zipstate where zipcode = m_zipcode;

How do I cast the logitude and latitude floatig point numbers, stored
in my plpgsql variables into a point datatype so I can use it with the
earthdistance function.

I tried the following and it returns a syntax error on the "as":

select cast((m_zip_info1, m_zip_info2) as point) <@>      cast((m_merchant_zip1, m_merchant_zip2) as point) into
m_miles;

I also tried the following, and Postgresql complained about the "::"

select (m_zip_info1,m_zip_info2)::point <@>      (m_merchant_zip1,m_merchant_zip2)::point into m_miles;

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Irv
ishapiro@cogitations.com