Eight years ago, an Arizona grandma and a teen stranger accidentally became friends after starting a Thanksgiving tradition that captured the hearts of people nationwide.
This week, Wanda Dench, 66, shared her holiday table with Jamal Hinton, 24, to whom she had famously texted an invite after mistaking his number for her grandson’s, for the eighth consecutive year. This time, they invited another stranger, identified as Arseni, to join them for an early holiday dinner at Wanda’s home in Prescott, Ariz. as part of an Airbnb promotion.
“Our year 8 selfie,” Jamal, 24, wrote alongside a photo of himself, Wanda, 66, and their guest on Instagram Nov. 22, one day before the holiday. “Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being part of the good in the world this holiday season #airbnbpartner”
The duo’s tradition began in 2016 when Wanda accidentally texted Jamal, instead of her grandson Randall Burgoyne, “Thanksgiving dinner is at my house on Nov. 24 at 3:00pm. Let me know if you’re coming. Hope to see you all. Of course that includes Amanda & Justin.”