A Friendship That Keeps Growing Strong
Even after a decade, their bond is still sweeter than pumpkin pie.
An Arizona grandmother, who gained attention for inviting a stranger to her Thanksgiving dinner, is ready to celebrate her 10th holiday feast with him this Thursday. She now sees him as part of her family.
“There was no generation gap at all… It felt like we were friends forever,” shared Wanda Dench, 68, from Mesa. “I feel so blessed because it has grown into family and love.”
This unique friendship began in November 2016 when Dench’s grandson mistakenly sent a group text invitation to Jamal Hinton’s phone. At the time, Hinton was 17 and lived about 45 minutes away. His response? A laughing emoji paired with the question, “You’re not a grandma. Can I still get a plate?”
“Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do… feed everyone,” she wrote back, sparking a friendship that captured the internet’s heart.
Now 26, Hinton has been inviting Dench to Thanksgiving every year since. “It’s just amazing to think that one erroneous text led to so much happiness and joy,” he remarked.
The two now alternate hosting Thanksgiving dinners, with last year’s gathering held at Hinton’s aunt’s home in Phoenix.
Throughout their time together, they’ve navigated challenges including Dench’s late husband Ronnie’s passing from COVID-19 complications in 2020 and her own breast cancer diagnosis.
Dench noted that the media presence was overwhelming during their first Thanksgiving together. “I had more media people at my house than my family,” she laughed.
Later, she and Ronnie invited Hinton and his girlfriend out to dinner, which turned out to be a fantastic evening with no awkward moments. “We talked until the restaurant closed,” Hinton recalled.
Dench added that Thanksgiving has often been filled with interviews rather than genuine conversations. “It’s the only time we don’t get to have great talks with each other!”
As of her last checkup, Dench is cancer-free and looks forward to celebrating yet another Thanksgiving with Hinton. “We really have to inspire people; that’s all I want to do. Push people to do better, or try something new,” Hinton expressed, reflecting the warmth of their friendship.
