Our doorbell rang the other day around 7:30 in the morning.

Rather unusual….

It was a cute neighbor girl, still half asleep and her hair a mess, wondering if she could borrow an egg…

WHAT!?

This was like the second time in about a month she had come around begging for an egg.

What’s the deal?

Contrary to what you might be thinking, however, I thought it was the cutest thing in the world.

She can come around anytime looking for an egg. Maybe some milk. Sugar. Even a banana. I’ll draw the line at a six pack, however.

The only requirement is that next time I get to partake in the delicious breakfast, whether it’s waffles or pancakes or whatever.

I humbly submit that I think the world needs more neighbors borrowing eggs from each other.

I’m fortunate to live in a neighborhood where most of us know each other. We’ve had small block parties over the years. Watch the Super Bowl together. Maybe ring in the new year. Kind of look out for each other. Wave. Borrow eggs. That sort of thing.

I’ve never quite understood the type who work all day, pull into the driveway, wait for the garage door to open, drive ahead, park, then click the garage door button again to close the bat cave.

Yes, there have been movies made about neighbors who perhaps invite themselves over too much, but the other extreme isn’t too healthy, either.

I’ve always considered Fountain Hills friendlier than many places around the Valley. I think this helps set us apart from other municipalities. No doubt there are pockets of neighborhoods in Chandler, Glendale, Ahwatukee where the neighbors actually know one another.

Tempe, it seems, still has a knack for retaining that small-town feel for such a big city.

Nonetheless, I think Fountain Hills – whether it’s the community itself or just the people – has done an outstanding job of projecting a sense of belonging. Between the school system, clubs, youth sports, business networking and the like, there are plenty of opportunities for people to meet each other, work side-by-side and actually form relationships.

The more relationships we form (and not just “friends” on Facebook), the more connected we feel and the more comfortable we become as a neighborhood, as a community.

Certainly small towns can have their drawbacks, and I realize that some folks just love big cities but for some reason have migrated here. They are perhaps more comfortable clicking that garage door opener upon entry.

But one of the main things that has kept me here all these decades is the sense of community.

That doesn’t mean you can ALL stop by the house for an egg, but if you live nearby and need something for the latest recipe, I just might open the door for you…