I have a 1995 saturn sl2 automtic transmission.  Several days after
having myh front brakes done, when parking the car and applying the
emergency brake, the brake handle went up much higher than normal. 
What does this mean?

It sounds like the cable is going/gone.  On most vehicles, the parking
brake uses the rear brakes.

Hi Marlar,

Did you notice a lot less resistance in the parking brake than usual?
Does it feel less springy? If this is the case, and especially if the
actual foot-pedal brake seems a little squishy, it might mean that
there is air in your brake lines. In any case, I would return the car
to the mechanic and explain the symptoms; if it's a problem with the
fluid, they'll probably bleed your brake lines and refill your fluid
at no cost (since it should have been done right the first time
around).

Good luck,
smudgy.

Is the vehicle safe to drive until I can get it back to the mechanic?

Try To Get ventilated Disk