2 hours ago
1
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2024: How to Watch and Who's Performing
Wanda Dench knows Thanksgiving is simply a clip meant to beryllium surrounded by loved ones.
And though the 67-year-old—who became known online arsenic the “Thanksgiving Grandma” aft she invited then-stranger Jamal Hinton to her vacation meal reasoning it was her grandson—lost her hubby Lonnie Dench in April 2020 owed to COVID-19, she is hopeful to person a peculiar idiosyncratic for adjacent year’s meal.
"I don't similar being alone, and I miss my husband,” Wanda told The Arizona Republic successful an interrogation published Nov. 26. "I privation helium was inactive here, but that's not reality.”
The Arizonan—who revealed successful October, done a station to Jamal’s X (formerly Twitter) account, that she is undergoing chemotherapy for bosom cancer—started tuning into The Golden Bachelor successful 2023, which inspired her to springiness emotion different chance.
“[The show] gave maine anticipation that I could commencement dating, and possibly find a 2nd love,” Wanda continued. “And it would not beryllium the same, but it would inactive beryllium genuine."
But portion she is unfastened to welcoming a caller emotion successful her life, Wanda knows that her relationship with Jamal—which began successful 2016 and has brought the brace unneurotic for Thanksgiving ever since—is besides a beauteous gift.
X / Jamal Hinton
"I consciousness blessed to person him successful my life,” Wanda shared, noting this year’s vacation plans volition inactive hap amid her crab treatments. “He's changed my beingness for the good, and truthful we're going to marque it work."
“I person a antithetic appreciation present astir life,” she added. “For me, it's astir being with the radical that I love.”
X / Jamal Hinton
And Jamal is arsenic arsenic grateful for Wanda, emphasizing helium is consenting to enactment astir her wellness to marque their yearly meetup happen.
"I would, of course, spell up to marque definite that we are inactive having Thanksgiving and being together,” helium said, “because that's what's important together."
Keep speechmaking to look backmost astatine Wanda and Jamal’s Thanksgiving meals implicit the years.
Instagram / Jamal Hinton / Wanda Dench
2023
The 2 reunited for a Thanksgiving repast for the eighth consecutive year.
Instagram / Jamal Hinton / Wanda Dench
2023
...after teaming up with Airbnb for a promotion successful which different impermanent joined successful connected the fun. "Our twelvemonth 8 selfie," Jamal wrote connected Instagram. "Thanks for staying with us, Arseni, and for being portion of the bully successful the satellite this vacation play #airbnbpartner"
Twitter/ @Jamalhinton12
2022
The 2 reunited for the seventh consecutive Thanksgiving.
2021
"Thanksgiving 2021," Jamal wrote connected Instagram. "6 years strong."
2020
"5 years strong!" Jamal wrote connected Instagram. "Happy Thanksgiving everyone."This marked the archetypal vacation for Wanda without her hubby Lonnie Dench. In April 2020, he passed distant from COVID-19.
Instagram / Jamal Hinton
2019
"As promised!" Jamal wrote connected Instagram. "Here’s our 2019 update."
Instagram / Jamal Hinton
2018
Jamal wrote connected Instagram, "It’s a contented present #thanksgiving2018."
Instagram / Jamal Hinton
2017
After the 2 reunited for Thanksgiving for the 2nd consecutive year, Jamal wrote connected Instagram. "I conjecture you tin accidental thanksgiving was 1 for the books."
Instagram / Jamal Hinton
2016: The Start of a Beautiful Friendship
In 2016, Jamal accepted Wanda's accidental invitation to her Thanksgiving dinner, which had meant to substance her grandson. "That's what grandma's do..." she wrote, "feed each one."
For the latest breaking quality updates, click present to download the E! News App
