Jamal (22 years) and Wanda (64 years) have a tradition that has stayed strong over the years. Despite the fact that Lonnie, Wanda’s husband, passed away two years ago, they haven’t stopped seeing each other every Thanksgiving after she accidentally invited him over text message in 2016, thinking he was their grandson.
Thanksgiving is a very special holiday in the United States, where families get together to celebrate, traditionally, the harvests of the previous year. However, this commemoration has evolved over time into an opportunity to be thankful for being together.
Occasionally, however, this day extends beyond blood families and outsiders are allowed to join in. In fact, one example of this has become well known in this country. We’re talking about Jamal Hinton, a young man who’s been celebrating Thanksgiving with another family for six years because of an erroneous text message.
Jamal Hinton
It all started in 2016, when Jamal received a message from Wanda Dench, who claimed to be his grandmother and invited him to the feast as part of their family. «Thanksgiving dinner will be at my house on November 24 at 3:00 pm. Let me know if you are coming. Hope to see you all. Of course, that includes Amanda and Justin,» the message read, thinking it would be received by her grandson.
Jamal, on the other end of the phone, hesitantly asked who it was, and Wanda said, «Your grandmother.» To this, the young man asked for a picture to verify if she was really his grandmother. However, upon seeing Wanda’s portrait, he jokingly replied with a picture of himself, saying that she wasn’t his grandmother, but if he could still go eat lunch with them.
Jamal Hinton
«Of course you can come. That’s what we grandmothers do, feed everyone,» Wanda replied, marking the beginning of a sweet tradition that would endure through the years.
On the last celebration of this date, in 2021, Jamal reunites with his sort of adoptive family once a year. He shared this in a photograph on his Instagram account, where he also showed photos from previous years.
Jamal Hinton
«Thanksgiving 2021, six years strong,» the young man wrote.
However, over the years the family has unfortunately suffered losses, such as Lonnie Dench, Wanda’s husband who hasn’t been there for the last two dates but is still part of the celebration through photos of him.
Jamal Hinton
Jamal Hinton
Jamal, 22, and Wanda, 64, have set an important example of togetherness. Even though they don’t share the same blood, they are family. This was more than proven with the last photo they shared together, where they posed for a drawn portrait of Lonnie.