Ain't Dere No More - Benny Grunch and the Bunch

Real Cajun Night Before Christmas By Crawfish-Man

Cajun Christmas

Cajun Jingle Bells

 Now all that had occurred here this night

The angel had clearly seen
Not unlike an old fashioned movie
Upon a silvered screen
That borders on the edge of a
Forgotten childhood dream

And from all that he had witnessed
He thought his answer he had found
And once more unfolded his wings
And left earth's solid ground

With every sweep of those wings
Across time and space he soared
Until he found himself standing
Back in heaven, before his lord

And he told his lord the name of the father's son
But then he hesitated
Like a child in school unsure of his answer
But the lord, he patiently waited

Then the angel added the names
Of the parishioners at the church
The musicians, the storyteller
The operator and the hospital nurse

Eventually there was hardly a person
That the angel had missed
And then at the very end he placed
The father's name, also on that list

That anyone could reflect his lord's son
Was now the angel's view
All it took was to follow the simple word's of his son
"to do unto others, as you would have others do unto you"

Then the lord smiled at his angel
And said, "you have done more than your task
It's a gift that eyes rarely have
That can see further than they are asked. "

And so this night is ending
So close to where it did start
As the angel slept deep that night
Within his lord's own heart

For hope never dies
At worst it only sleeps
And all we surrender
Christmas safely keeps

Through the cold winter nights
Of the longest Decembers
Till here by starlight
We begin to remember

That in the very end
The message Christmas is sending
Is that it is never too late
To change any life's ending

[The end]

[After the end or (the next day)]

So Christmas eve had come and past
But not so Christmas day
And thus it is, we add a final act
Onto our yearly play

A taxicab pulled up to the grand hotel,
That morning somewhere around eight
And the father with his son got out
And asked the driver, to please wait

Then the father asked the clerk if he could speak
To the couple in room twelve twenty-four
Adding he did not know the couple's name
But had met their child the night before

The clerk answered most politely
That he would like to fulfill his wish
But the room number twelve twenty-four
In this hotel, did not exist

The father then described the little girl
Her age and dress as well
But the clerk said there had been no children there at all that week
Was he sure he had the right hotel?

So the father started wondering
If in the cold winter's air
He had somehow imagined the entire event
But then he realized, he didn't care

The only thing that mattered
When all was said and done
Was that he was reunited
With his one and only son

And when they got back into their cab
He heard a ripping sound
As the contents of his wife's folder
Spilled out onto the ground

As he rushed to pick it all up
He grabbed the picture first
Of him and his wife at the age nineteen
Long before she had given birth

And on the back he saw a poem he had written to her
Years before they had wed
When they were young, their lives just begun
And here is what it said,

"if a single tear fell from your eyes into the ocean
And then washed up on some far and distant shore
I would still recognize that teardrop
For in the end that tear would still be yours"

And then he saw another picture
That he had never seen before
Of a little girl in a Russian styled coat
Standing with her parents, in front of their store

The little girl he saw there
He now knew was a childhood picture of his wife
But it was also a picture of the little girl
He had just met on the previous night

And he realized that those who love
Death cannot divide
It only provides an extra soul
To watch over us from the other side

And together they returned
Back to the father's home
And shared the best christmas
That either of them had ever known

And somewhere across eternity
Which in distance cannot be measured
The mother looked down upon them both
And their happiness she treasured

And later on late that night
When her son was drifting off to sleep
A tear once more rolled from her eyes
And trailed across her cheek

But this one was a tear of joy
That she could not keep inside
And this time she followed it through eternity
Across the great divide

Till it landed by another joyful tear
That her husband had just wept
And there unseen she joined him
In the silent vigil that he kept

For we are all born mortal
Like stars and candlelight
And all that really matters
Is what we do before we fall asleep each night

This night
We pray
Our lives will show

This dream he had
Each child
Still knows

We are waiting
We have not forgotten

On this night
On this night
On this night
On this very Christmas night

My Biography

Juan Rios Gaspard, Born on 8-25-1965, to Clarice "Louise" (Staton) Dupuy, My Mother and best friend, A devoted caretaker of the elderly and Misfortunate, An LPN, She Loved and cared for every person as Family, and taught me such Valuable Lessons about Honesty, and Integrity, compassion and Love. I was raised By My Loving Mother and My Stepfather, Loveless P. Dupuy, A Man of his own Character, in a small country suburb, Poydras Louisiana The entire Villa, comprised of 1.5 miles, in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. I Attended St. Bernard , where in my Junior Year, for my 17th Birthday, My Mother wept as she signed, the papers , for me to join The Marines, I went to USMC boot camp on 2-14-1983.

Patriotism,

I served in the United States Marines from 1983 to 1986, during My Tour of Duty, My M.O.S. was 03-31, I was an "M60 machine gunner" for Weapons Platoon Company "E" 2nd Battalion 7Marines 1st Marine Divisions (weapons Platoon) later I was reassigned to Weapons Company 2/7, in the Heavy Guns capacity and has had extensive weapons training including 50 Caliber weapons. In my Tour of Duty, where I traveled to 6 different Countries and 20 different states , I was also deployed to Okinawa Japan, and South Korea for Operation Team Spirit 83/84

Work

As a young adult I was an Emergency Medical Technician, Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatcher, before getting into Carpentry, Construction would become My forte, I excelled as a pipe fitter, again became the top of my class in Pipefitting. pipe-fitters keep America flowing at the gas pumps

The Lion

I am known as The Lion, because of My characteristic past, and survival skills, I am a VERY bold Person, My Character Dictates, I must be A Truthful, Compassionate Leader, and Therefore, I must admit, I have a very colorful past. I will defend the Vulnerable, Veterans, our Elders and Children. I do not tolerate any social issues based on sex, age, color, or creed. Racism is a learned trait, That I was never taught, Marion Reddick, My "other Mother" was instrumental in educating me, As a youth. Judging someone without knowing them, Prejudicially, is a sign of ignorance and a "Sin" on ones own Soul, and stagnates the Judgmental in their own cesspool of mire, Humanity needs to move beyond this Social ill.

The Turning Point

2005, was a very notable year for Me, first, on March 6th I stood at My Mothers CCU bed, as she, with tears in her eyes, Begged me to make the doctor, The only Human trying his best to keep her alive, Stop what he was doing, Me and my siblings knelt at my Mothers side as she left this world, We then held hands over my Mother, As I sang Amazing Grace, and will the circle be unbroken, two of my Mothers favorite Gospel songs, No other person, Has been so influential in My Life, she gave me Life, She Nurtured me, and raised me, she protected me even from myself, Clarice "Louise" Dupuy, is not only My Mother, she is My Glory Hallelujah, she is the very essence of my existence, I live my life today in the hopes she is proud of the Legacy, I will leave behind.

32 days later My Mother in Law passed also, Both of these women ate at my table. 4 months Later everybody in my Hometown, had water in their attics, As Katrina's destruction took it's toll on my Hometown of St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. 35 days Later My Step-Father joined My Mother, As a result of Katrina's unleashed Destruction onto Humanity, My Step-Father Refused to leave as we begged him to, he decided to ride out the storm at a Nursing home, where my Mother was a Nurse for almost 15 years.

Tragedy

12-12-06, one of the most defining moments in my adult life occurred tragically, as I and My Beloved wife, The Love of My Youth, and Soulmate were struck head on, in a terrible 2 accident, that claimed the lives of the other driver, as well as Beautiful wife, Vernetia Whitfield Gaspard. So, as this world would have it, on 12-12-06 at the young age of just 41, I, Juan Rios Gaspard, became a Widower. I suffered a Horrible TBI, A Traumatic Brain Injury, that basically erased my entire memory, I have seen too Much, Trust me, just this glimpse, Of what I have survived, horrifies you, And I understand

Destiny Revealed

In February of 2011 by chance I met man , As I was having fun on Bourbon St. in New Orleans , It was Lundi Gras, and I had a Mask, scaring the girls, Just being me! I saw him standing there, admiring me, and Curiosity got the better of me, We spoke Briefly, He told me I was an Actor, even though i insisted I was a pipe fitter. This man took the time to explain to me, the ups and downs of "Acting", This "man" I speak of is Pierce Brosnan. Within 2 weeks I had Landed My First extra gig, as a swat team Member in "Stolen" starring Nick Cage. I realized I needed to Study, and Learn, So after a 2 year Hiatus I Returned to the Silver Screen, and in 2013 was in 11 different projects, including a Featured shot in Bonnie & Clyde,(Bruce Beresford).

2014

I returned to the Silver Screen, after a one year Hiatus, I lost 74 pounds and have achieved some of his goals, I am living much healthier, I try to eat only things that have lived before, basically Paleo, I quit smoking, after 26 years as a smoker. I don't do, or promote Drugs, I do however see the Medicinal Value of Cannabis on a medical Level.

2016

I took my Mensa test, and placed off the charts., In 2016 I joined Mensa, for the first time in My Life, My pretest placed me in the 99.9968 percentile, A literal Genius. My Mensa Scored a Raw 96, And My Wonderlic in the 99 percentile range.

2017 update

its obvious if you are watching my page as a fan, or checking me out as a potential Principle, My Ascent has been brief, That is for a reason, I am my own unique Character, in just 3 short years I have seen my Marketability and Popularity soar, I want to Thank all of YOU for that, You kindness and Support, is what makes this all worthwhile, Without you, This would all be in Vain. So, Again, Thanks everybody, it's all about YOU.

2018

I'm Back, I've shaved My beard short, And still have the hair. I've taken some classes, And I am much more prepared for Destiny to be revealed, So eloquently.

2019 update After almost a year I am returning again, and planning a California venture in late 2019, or Early 2020 its obvious the hair and beard are gone, I am pursuing "Neater" roles. I am pursuing my goals of winning a couple Oscars, Because I, You are vital to my plans, Because I cant do it, without YOU. Yes I even have my first Oscar speech prepared.

2020 Its 2020, and I can see Clearly This will be my breakout year, I have studied diligently and applied all my energy into learning and perfecting my talent and skills, It isn't time to relax, But Rather its time to push myself harder, And Grow into my skills. I am submitting for "Roles" and soon, you will not only see me, But hear my expertise Brought to life on the Silver Screen, and Your T.V.

I became SAG eligible in 2020

Thanksgiving 2020

At age 55, 2020 was an earmark for my Biological siblings and I, We had a Muir family Reunion. For the first time ever we all met some siblings and family we had never known before. I must admit, it did my Soul well, to celebrate in the hills of Tennessee, on the bank of Boone Lake with this previously unknown part of my Family.

Acting classes and preparation

I took script analysis and preparation for film, classes in 2018/19 as well as performed to a live audience, with Sandra K. Horner of Los Angeles, I have also studied and filmed with Veleka Gray of Louisiana. Years of classes later, Blocking, Script interpretation, Beats, Intentions, Presentation, And becoming the Character, Have prepared me for speaking roles.

I can assure you, I am a lot more prepared, But by no means finished learning, Learning is a continuous Process, so I persevere.

Its a Journey of the Soul Melding the Mind and Body into Characters to display before you, I want to Thank everyone who believed in me, and cant wait to feel your excitement when we see each other.

To my "Colleagues" Get ready, Cause I'm coming to get everything "They said I couldn't have".

Acting

Character preparation, Is an ongoing process for a Method Actor. It's a struggle, To draw from Stanislavski, Robert Lewis, Michael Chekhov, Uda Hagen, Sanford Meisner, Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, the stellar Instructors and stars we are blessed to study and learn from, And others, as I pick from the leaves of the "Method tree", And make a cup of "Tea" , In the mind of the Director, Who only tells me the ingredients, never the portions. Too much, It's too bitter, Too less, It's too sweet. So somehow in my quest of bringing the dead to life, As well as being a Mind reader, I have to find a way to trust the guidance of a person who will tell me hardly anything, And sometimes too much. I function in a mind frame of less is more (Eastwood) (Spaghetti westerns) as I plunge into a world of the written unknown, Where bland words are given life in my passion to perform, For you. So, Shall we sit, And have some "Tea" , From the imagination of my creativity.

An entertainer does not receive Accolades for doing what they are Comfortable performing, But by confronting the fears of failure, going headlong into the unknown abyss of re-creation, and Bringing the Character to life, Becoming The Character, so Skillfully, So well, you forget its a Movie, and Who the entertainer is, in real Life.

Thats Acting,

"Don't tell me you can't do it, If you've never tried, Just be honest and tell me you are too afraid to try."

" I can do all things, through Christ that strengthens me."

It's never, About me, And always about YOU

Juan Rios Gaspard

#TheLion

#TheLionofLouisiana,

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Juan Gaspard

View my Bio and all the productions I have been a part of HERE

ATF withdraws proposed guidance on AR-pistol braces that would have affected millions of gun owners

On Wednesday night the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) withdrew a proposed guidance that would have reclassified millions of AR-15 style pistols and other weapons with braces that stabilize a user’s wrist when firing, to short-barreled rifles, which are much more heavily regulated.

The guidance, posted on the Federal Register on Dec. 18, would have reconsidered pistols with stabilizing braces to be “short-barreled rifles” which are a controlled class of weapon under the National Firearms Act. The change would have required gun owners to either turn in their firearms or register their pistols as NFA firearms and pay a $200 tax stamp if the weapon is accepted. Failure to comply would have made the owners of previously legal pistols felons under the NFA.

The proposed ATF guidance would have required millions of gun owners to either turn in their guns or register them with the government, causing a national uproar from millions across the country.

In a notice announcing its decision to withdraw the proposed guidance and requests for public comment on the potential reclassification of these firearms, the ATF said, “Upon further consultation with the Department of Justice and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, ATF is withdrawing, pending further Department of Justice review, the notice and request for comments entitled ‘Objective Factors for Classifying Weapons with ‘Stabilizing Braces’,’ that was published on December 18, 2020.”

Details HERE