Grandma Accidentally Sends The Wrong Text – It Hilariously Turns Into A Holiday Tradition
By Christina Williams
Grandma Accidentally Sends The Wrong Text – It Hilariously Turns Into A Holiday Tradition

Family tradition doesn’t always need to start with family.

Sometimes it can start with an accidental text message.

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For the eighth consecutive year a pair of Thanksgiving legends who became fast friends after a text message was sent to the wrong grandchild, Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, are back at it again.

The story of this unlikely Thanksgiving tradition began with a text message mishap in 2016. Dench, attempting to reach her grandsons, accidentally messaged Hinton, who responded with unexpected humor, “Can I still get a plate tho?” Little did they know, this innocent mistake would lead to a lasting friendship.

This time for Thanksgiving, they’ve added a delightful twist to their annual festivities — an Airbnb guest named Arseni.

That’s a wrap on Thanksgiving year 8! Thankful for the connections we made hosting our first @airbnb guest 🧡,” Hinton joyfully exclaimed on X (formerly Twitter).

In the Instagram post, Dench, 66, identified their special guest as Arseni, extending her gratitude for joining the celebration as part of an Airbnb promotion. The one-night stay for two guests came with a price tag of $16, a nod to the fateful year of 2016 when Wanda and Jamal first shared the Thanksgiving table.

Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton during their first Thanksgiving. Photo courtesy of Hinton

“Our year 8 selfie 🧡 Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season #airbnbpartner,” Dench added in her post.

“I think it is perfect,” Hinton said. “I mean, me personally, I love meeting new people and building new friendships.”

Since that serendipitous encounter, Dench and Hinton have shared more than just a Thanksgiving meal. They’ve visited pumpkin patches, watched the Super Bowl together, and even appeared side by side on a game show.

“It’s always amazing to meet someone and talk to them for a couple of minutes when you’re out, or if anyone recognizes me from a Thanksgiving story or anything like that,” Hinton reflected. “But to be able to sit down and actually talk to them for a full day, and especially sometimes with no media around or to really just get to know each other, I think that that’s going to be a beautiful friendship that can continue for years, kind of like me and Wanda.”

This year, they decided to open their hearts and home to a new friend through Airbnb. The listing on Airbnb’s site captures the essence of their enduring friendship and the expansion of their Thanksgiving table – “Some may recognize us from our viral text mishap that led to our first Thanksgiving together back in 2016. And eight years later, we’re practically family. To commemorate our lasting friendship, we’re excited to become Airbnb hosts and welcome new guests into our holiday tradition, creating meaningful connections in the process.”

Wanda Dench, Arseni and Jamal Hinton. Photo courtesy of Hinton

Airbnb said the one-night stay was filled with games, movies, and storytelling. In the spirit of giving, Airbnb also announced a donation to Feeding America, a nonprofit dedicated to hunger relief in the United States.

Their story, now reaching the big screens, is set to be adapted into a feature film by Netflix titled “The Thanksgiving Text.” The movie aims to capture the essence of this remarkable friendship that defied all odds, emphasizing the power of connections formed in the most unexpected ways.

Despite the challenges life threw at them, including the loss of Wanda Dench’s husband, Lonnie Dench, to COVID-19 in 2020, their friendship has endured.

“We are excited to share our story with the world. We hope it inspires more people to reach out and make connections that they wouldn’t ordinarily make,” Hinton and Dench said.

As Wanda, Jamal, and now Arseni, continue to celebrate Thanksgiving together, their story serves as a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful connections are forged in the most unexpected places.

“We are so blessed to find a genuine friendship brought together by God from a mistaken text message,” the pair said.

Watch their amazing story below.

Sources: People | Good Morning America