Jamal Hinton with Wanda Dench and his girlfriend Mikaela at Thanksgiving 2021.Photo: Jamal Hinton/Instagram
With every year that passes,Jamal Hinton and Wanda Denchare increasingly thankful to be in each other’s lives.
The duo, who first met in 2016 after Dench accidentally invited Hinton over for dinner in a text message meant for her grandson, celebrated their sixth Thanksgiving together on Thursday.
To mark the occasion, Hinton — whorecently confirmed that they would be togetherfor the holiday — snapped a photo with Dench, 64, and his girlfriend Mikaela at the gathering.
“Thanksgiving 2021,” wrote Hinton, 22, who shared photos from their previous five celebrationsin the Instagram post. “6 years strong💛🦃”
He also shareda sweet photo on Twitter,showing him, Dench and Mikaela smiling while holding up a painting and photo of Dench’s late husband Lonnie, who tragicallydied in April 2020after a battle withCOVID-19.
The pals met in November 2016 when Dench accidentally sent Hinton, then 17, a text message inviting him over for dinner, instead of her 24-year-old grandson. There was some initial confusion, and the two sent selfies to each other that confirmed the mix-up.
Dench later learned that her grandson had switched his number, but when Hinton asked if he could still come over for dinner, she texted back, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone,” according toABC News.
Jamal Hinton and Wanda Dench.Jamal Hinton
The two ended up forming an unlikely friendship, with Hintonpreviously telling PEOPLEthat “it was so unexpected, but she was just so sweet about it.”
“It was a reminder that there are still some good people left in this world,” he said. “She is a very sweet lady… I just got a vibe from her that made me feel at home.”
Wanda and Lonnie Dench with Jamal Hinton and his girlfriend Mikaela.Jamal Hinton
“I just clicked when I met him and first talked to him,” she explained to the outlet. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to get to know this guy.’ "
Since then, neither has let Thanksgiving pass without continuing their annual tradition, even when Lonnie died from COVID.
RELATED VIDEO: ‘Thanksgiving Grandma’ Keeps Tradition Alive Years After Text Mix-Up, Despite Pandemic
He has also spent time with Dench outside of Thanksgiving, including in 2019 when he and Mikaela met Dench and Lonnie at a pumpkin patch, according toHinton’s Instagram.
“Blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives,” Hintonwrote of a 2019 selfiewith Dench and her now-late husband.
On Nov. 14, Hintonannounced on Twitterthat he would be meeting up with Dench on Thanksgiving for the sixth year.
“We areall set for year 6!“Hinton wrote beside a screenshot of a text message from Dench inviting him for Thanksgiving once again, and a photo with him, Dench, Lonnie and Mikaela.
source: people.com
