After 27 years in Hays, our family is making the bittersweet move to Manhattan at the end of June. For the past 16 years, Jerry has made the commute every week from Hays to D.C. -- more than 4 hours by car to KCI, then a 2.5 hour flight -- each way -- and spends weekdays in D.C.

For the past three years, I've been in Hays, Alex has been in Manhattan at K-State, and Kelsey was at K-State and is now in Haven.

This past January, Alex was accepted into K-State's Veterinary School, and will be in Manhattan for another four years. Kelsey and her husband will move to D.C. in August for Kelsey to attend Georgetown Law School (across the street from Dad's office) for three years.

Our family made the decision that this was finally time to "consolidate" our personal lives a little -- Alex and I will be in Manhattan, and Jerry and Kelsey will be in D.C. This also will allow Jerry to significantly reduce his commute time between the airport and home and will get me closer to the rest of the family.

I am also serving a four-year term on the Board of Regents, which meets regularly in Topeka. Jerry's father continues to do well living in Plainville, so Jerry will continue to come west on many weekends to spend time with his dad. He also will continue to maintain a Senate office in Hays.

Hays has been a wonderful place to live and raise our family. The people of this community have been so good to us, and so supportive of Jerry. The Hays public schools were important in the academic successes of our girls.

We have felt safe here, we have made lifetime friends here, and Hays has turned this Kansas City girl into a western Kansan. We are sad to move. But as a U.S. senator, Jerry now represents the entire state. Not only will we continue to return often and spend time in the western two-thirds of the state, it is now also necessary for us to address constituent needs and attend events in the other 36 counties of our state.

And most importantly, we would like to be able to enjoy a bit more time together. Thank you for all this community means to us -- we will always be "from Hays."

Robba Moran,

Hays