• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Website of Steve Neff

  • BLOG
  • SHOP
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • RAVES
  • CONTACT

Search Neffmusic

You are here: Home / Funny as a Brain Tumor / As Funny as a Brain Tumor! Part 1

As Funny as a Brain Tumor! Part 1

October 15, 2009 by Steve 6 Comments

Over the years, I have told this story hundreds of times.  At restaurants, friend’s homes, camping trips and many other places.   There have been a number of times where I start telling the story to one person and soon find myself surrounded by a number of people all tentatively listening. These attentive listeners will often interrupt me with eager questions that they just can’t hold in any longer: “How is that possible?”  “What did you do?”  “Why didn’t you go to the doctor?”  “What did people think?” etc………

People always seem captivated by the story and I hope that it will someday be on the discovery channel as one of those medical mystery shows.  I’ve even had a number of people tell me that it could be a movie featuring Tom Hanks or Jim Carrey as Steve Neff.  I’m not sure I can imagine that, but in the meantime,  I thought I would share it here on the internet.

I find the story quite entertaining to tell and it is all 100% true.  My goal in sharing my story is to perhaps give comfort and hope to others who might be going through their own story. We all have our own stories with our own ups and downs, highs and lows, etc…… and in that we can hopefully all relate and know we are not alone in our struggles.

I always struggle with how to best begin this story, so I guess I should just begin. Back in the early 90’s (1993-1995 time range) life was good.  I was feeling great about many aspects of my life.  I was 26 years old and was playing the sax full time which had always been my dream and passion.  I had a girlfriend I was crazy about and a lot of friends.  I was working out and my health was good. I drove a cool silver Nissan 300ZX sports car and was feeling pretty good about my life.  I was involved in a great christian church in the Boston area and at the time, I felt like life was great!

1985 Nissan 300ZX-probably the absolute worst car to drive in snowy New England-But I looked cool……

During this stage of my life,  I started noticing that I was laughing a lot.  I know what you are thinking, “That’s good!  You were happy. Life was good. Happy people laugh a lot!”.  That is true, but this was a bit different. Have you ever met somebody who would laugh whenever they were uncomfortable or nervous?  Well, that was me.  It started out where I would laugh at odd moments like during a serious conversation or when someone else was upset.  I think the people around me would just write it off as “this guys a little strange.”

As time went on,  my laughing became even worse.  It was now becoming the kind of laughter where I felt like I couldn’t stop.  My whole body would move up and down shaking and I would laugh hysterically so hard that I would fall off my chair if I was sitting down.  I was doing it all the time,  many times a day. Let me give you a few real life examples just so you can understand.

Every time I went to the bank and had to stand in line, I would start cracking up.  Just laughing and laughing while in line.  Sometimes there would be other people in line and sometimes, I would just be standing there alone.  Either way, it didn’t matter, I would be cracking up laughing.  I would get up to the teller and she would ask me “What are you laughing at?”.  I would say  “I don’t know” and just keep on laughing. Many times, this constant laughing I was doing would make other people laugh with me so it was kind of funny to see everyone at the bank laughing with me. The tellers at the bank actually named me the “Laughing Boy”.  They always seemed to get a big kick out of me when I visited…………

The bank line. Worst part of my day!

Another situation, that happened all the time,  is that I would burst out laughing during uncomfortable times in movies. One specific time, that I remember clearly, is when I went to see “Braveheart” in the theater with a bunch of my friends.  Do you remember that point where Mel Gibson’s wife gets her throat cut and dies……..well, I started hysterically laughing out loud.  It was so bad,  I had to leave the theater because I couldn’t hold it in.  As I headed down the aisle laughing loudly during a traumatic scene, I couldn’t help but think that the people in the theater were probably thinking I was a nutcase or perhaps a closet serial killer…..  I finally got control of myself outside and went back in.  Do you remember how “Braveheart” ends? (clue: FREEDOM!!! while Mel Gibson is disembowelled)…….Well, let’s just say I had to leave the theater again and my friends and everyone else there were wondering “What the heck is wrong with this guy?”

Mel Gibson making me laugh hysterically in Braveheart

Another experience that I remember, is that I would always lose it in elevators.  I would be standing in an elevator by myself praying no one else would get on. The doors would open and a bunch of people would get on.  It would be really quiet and that nice elevator music would be playing.  Then, out of nowhere, I would start snickering and chuckling as I tried not to laugh.  The people would turn around and look at me and I would apologize.  They would turn back around and as soon as they did, I would start laughing again even louder while apologizing repeatedly.

Awkward elevator tension before I burst out laughing

It’s interesting because some people would laugh with me even though they had no idea what I was laughing at.  Other people would get mad.  You could see it on their faces.  They would start fidgeting and checking their clothes and zippers.  Others would check their backside and shoes looking for the source of my amusement because they were afraid I was laughing at them.  Most people would get off the elevator nodding their heads in bewilderment but others would glare at me like they were personally offended by my laughter.

Any time I would have any kind of deep and meaningful conversation with my girlfriend at the time,  I would always end up laughing uncontrollably sooner or later.  If she was mad about something I would start laughing.  If she was concerned, I would start laughing.  If she was sad, you guessed it, I would start laughing.  I had no idea why I was laughing!  Most of these times, there was nothing at all funny about what we were talking about, but nevertheless, all I could do was laugh.  Let me just say that this laughing thing did not prove to be a healthy building block for a strong and lasting relationship………..

One time,  I had a performance appraisal that was given to me by my very over-weight boss. (I started working as a manager in a convenient store in 1995)  As we sat down in my small office and he started to talk about my performance over the last year, I started cracking up.  It started out sparse, a giggle and a snicker here and there, but eventually, I exploded!  I was laughing so hard I fell off my chair and couldn’t talk.  My boss started turning red and I could tell he was getting really angry!  I imagine that he thought I was laughing at him because he kept asking me “What are you laughing at?” “Are you laughing at me?”  I would gasp “No” over and over in between the laughter as tears were running down my cheeks.  Although he gave me a great performance appraisal at the time because I was doing a great job,  I’m pretty sure that he thought I had some mental health issues troubling me after that encounter and that he would need to fire me sooner or later.

Another time, at this same store, the president of the company came in to meet me as he toured all of his stores.  He was a pretty serious guy as most millionaire CEO’s are.  Let’s just say that I didn’t leave the best impression.  We met each other in an aisle in the store where we shook hands and he introduced himself.  He then proceeded to watch me laugh for what felt like five minutes straight.  The boss who had given me the performance appraisal was also there and trying to do his best to cover for me but I’m pretty sure that that the owner of the company was wondering why the heck an idiot like me was managing one of his best stores. Luckily, at that time I had one of the best performing stores in the region so I think that helped me not to get immediately fired that day.

One of the most painful memories to share was when I had to go to the funeral of my girlfriend’s father who had died unexpectedly.  I had just spent an afternoon with him a few weeks before and asked him for his blessing to ask his daughter to marry me.   The funeral home was packed and I was sitting in the second row with my girlfriend and the family.   Even though I felt very sad, that laughing feeling started rising out of my gut again.  “Oh, No”,  I thought.   All I wanted to do was be there to support my girlfriend during this painful loss of her father but here came the laughter.  As with all the stories above, I couldn’t control it!  “What was wrong with me?”  I had to leave the funeral home and walk out in front of everyone laughing out loud………. This again, was not a building block moment for this relationship………..

Another memory I have,  is of being in a Sunday night church meeting and the minister was talking about people “going to hell”.  I didn’t find anything particularly funny about this message of his but nevertheless, I started laughing hysterically. There was nothing subtle about it, I just burst out laughing and interrupting his lesson in a room full of about 50 people. Of course, this interruption caught the minister’s attention and he asked me what was so funny as I continued to laugh.  I couldn’t give him an acceptable answer for my outburst which seemed to make him quite frustrated and mad.

He then proceeded to change his lesson from “people are going to hell”,  into “people going to hell is not a laughing matter”.  In this new revised lesson, he taught that if you think people going to hell is funny,  you should not be going to a church meeting about “people going to hell!”.   I was still laughing hysterically as he made his revised points which of course made the minister even more angry. Finally, my continued laughter used up any of the patience he had left and he told me to get out.  I remember laughing the whole way to the door, out to my car and all the way home…….(Surprisingly, I wasn’t invited back to those Sunday night church meeting after that)

I’ll continue with the rest of this story next time. There’s much more to it, so check back later…………..Part 2

Filed Under: Funny as a Brain Tumor Tagged With: brain stem, brain tumor, funny, hysterical, laughing, Massachusetts, meningioma, MGH, steve neff

Steve

About Steve

Steve Neff has been playing and teaching saxophone and jazz improvisation around the New England area for over 30 years. He is the author of many best selling jazz improvisation methods as well as founding the popular jazz video lesson site Neffmusic.com.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarElaine Spitz says

    August 21, 2009 at 8:27 am

    Hi Steve – I was worried about you back then and really thought you were simply losing it. Most of the stories above I’m now hearing for the first time. The times we spent on gigs, though, went from wonderful to strange and we didn’t know what to make of it. I have my memories of how you came to be diagnosed, but will wait to see what you post about that so as not to spoil this fascinating story. You are a miracle man, Steve, and I’m so glad you’re here to tell about it.
    Hugs,
    Elaine

    Reply
    • stevesteve says

      August 26, 2009 at 8:37 am

      I remember being on those gigs and I couldn’t even play through a solo without stopping and laughing. At first it was funny but after awhile it was just annoying. I haven’t gotten to that point in the story but Jeff C. in the band was really the one who helped me the most and got me to get medical attention. I’m still very grateful to him for that.

      Reply
  2. AvatarSean Kelly says

    September 2, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Hey Steve, this was all a huge WOW! as I haven’t been in touch since HS. Didn’t know any of it, and am eagerly awaiting the rest of the story. Fascinating, really! And I too am glad you’re around to tell the story yourself.

    [edge of my seat Man!]

    Reply
  3. AvatarJohn Paduchak says

    September 3, 2009 at 9:47 am

    Steve,

    Interesting story. This certainly waxes the theory that laughter is the best medicine… I can’t wait to hear how this ends

    Reply
  4. AvatarAndy Baron says

    January 5, 2019 at 11:34 pm

    I’m reading this on a City bus ride home from a gig. Very eager to read the rest of the story.
    I laugh a lot myself. The story immediately brings to mind a tune written and performed by Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks, titled ” The Laughing Song “. Check it out on you tube.

    Reply
    • SteveSteve says

      January 6, 2019 at 11:46 am

      Hi Andy, Thanks for taking the time to read my story. It’s a cliffhanger! Haha! At least it will keep you entertained on those bus rides. Steve

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Cart

Subscribe to the Neffmusic Newsletter for the latest reviews and best deals delivered straight to your inbox every month. Join now and you will also receive my 40 Ultimate Michael Brecker Licks free!

Select list(s) to subscribe to


Thanks for joining!


NEFFMUSIC PRINTED BOOKS

Testimonials

Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
Gerry Aylward

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

Julia
By the way, BIG COMPLIMENTS to you, Steve! Not only are you a great player, you are also a great teacher! I, too, am a woodwinds player/teacher. I have new inspiration to play and teach because of you. The concepts and “thinking” is similar to what I already learned in College, but hearing you explain and PLAY the concepts REALLY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE! Also, your written patterns are more interesting than other books I have seen! Keep up the good work. I will be recommending your sit… Read more
I will be recommending your site to others!

Thank You Steve. I think that I will be busy for years. Thank You for your great contribution to jazz music. Your books, more than teaching “how to play jazz”, actually teach “how to speak jazz”. I wish I found your methods years ago.  

Jean-Eric
Steve’s monthly lessons are entirely valuable. Without brow beating, he tells you all the stuff you deep down know you really should be working on, instead of just relying on the same old patterns. In spite of the fact that you’re taking a video lesson, Steve’s presentation is comfortable and “real”. In a little more than a year, he’s developed a library of lessons that seem to offer any player a lifetime’s worth of practice material. I’m just glad I stumbled upon it.… Read more
Grant
I have found your videos and publications inspiring and your contribution to the world of saxophone playing is immense. Paul
Paul
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil
I have NEVER seen material like yours.  Amazing!!
Jerry
I can see from your instructional videos that you are a fantastic teacher – one that can truly relate to all ages – humble yet very positive in approach – never coming across as superior and yet so totally capable of demonstrating the principles and techniques that you seek to impart to the students. I have gained so much confidence in my playing from “pouring over” time and again these invaluable lessons. Invaluable not only in musical content, but also in human interaction content. I am absolu… Read more
Ron
Steve- I joined your site this month and have downloaded 4 lessons and also purchased your new book and video on diatonic patterns. I just want to say I am very pleased with your approach and teaching techniques. I am getting back into playing after laying off for some time. The information you offer on your site is of great value and I am enjoying being a member. Thank you for what you are doing for the saxophone community.
Tony
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
Tony Galfano
I want to say something about Steve Neff’s series of lessons, Beginner Jazz Improvisation. For a couple of years I tried many beginner lessons and my problem was that there was a gap between lessons that were fairly simple and ones that I was not quite ready for and my progress stalled out. That problem was solved with the series Beginner Jazz Improvisation. He guides you step by step along the way and builds a foundation for learning jazz and blues. He leaves no question about what to practice … Read more
Pete
Hey Steve, I’m a 22-year-old from Australia. I thought it would be worth saying. You’re an absolute legend. I can’t thank you enough. You have helped me rekindle my love for the saxophone and music as a whole. All the best for the future, your work doesn’t go unnoticed. PS. I am loving your devastating minor lines pdf.
Sapph

Hello Steve, I’m getting so much out of your lessons and books, amazing how much one may think one knows, there is always a new frontier or new way to view something you think you had somewhat down. You have taken it all to a new level and am so grateful. Your lessons are so down to earth and understandable and clear!  Thanks so much Steve! Cheers, Eddie

Eddie Parente

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
Thank you for the wealth of helpful lessons you’ve provided over the years.  I truly feel as though it has improved my playing more than the 4 years I spent at Berklee… and that’s not a slight on the school as I loved my experience there.
John
John
Just wanted to send you a quick note to say thank you for being you, your playing, your website and your desire to help others. I’m a professional musician in the US Army and I’ve visited your website almost every day since discovering it a couple of months ago. Your lessons are profound and easy to use. I’ve purchased most of your PDF books and now am starting to delve more into the video and audio lessons.  Thank you for being a great resource!
James

Steve,  Just want to say thanks for all you are doing for all of us. I’ve learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.

If you can give some tips on One Note Samba, Ceora, and Wave… that would be cool.  I really like learning how you apply your concepts to actual songs!

Have a great year,

Kevin Ledbetter

I've learned more from you than anyone else in my 40 years of playing.
I have been a member of Neffmusic for more than a year now and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have not only been going thru the Dominant Bebop Scale lessons and book (OUTSTANDING!) but the mouthpiece reviews, solo clips and transcriptions are very interesting. Steve approach to beginning and intermediate improv have given me many new pathways to teach my high school jazz ensemble students. Congratulations Steve, great product!
Craig
I’ve been a member of Steve’s site for about six months now and the difference it has made to my playing is immeasurable. The (many) benefits of this membership are that you can have lessons at time convenient to you, they work out A LOT cheaper than face-to-face lessons with a teacher of the same calibre and you can replay them ad infinitum. I don’t know how many times have I had lessons in the past where I’ve ended up covering the same concepts when really a ‘replay’ of the last lesson would h… Read more
Nick
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore

Featured Video Lessons

  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $19.99 Original price was: $19.99.$14.99Current price is: $14.99.
  • The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor The Secret to Modern Outside Jazz Lines Lesson-Minor $9.99
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 4.91 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson The Secret to Altissimo (no one has ever told you about before) Lesson
    Rated 4.75 out of 5
    $9.99

Now over 600 video and audio lessons to choose from!

Free Lessons

  • Free Lesson on The New Ultimate II-V-I Primer-Major Keys
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering Altered Pentatonics
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Blues Scale Volume 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Mastering the Dominant Bebop Scale and Language Book 1 & 2
  • Free Video Lesson on Approach Note Velocity Book

Recent reviews

  • Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson Bebop Scale-Altered Scale II-V-I Practice Lesson by Noah
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) by Andy
  • Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Dominant Pentatonic Sound over a Blues (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Russ
  • Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson Creating Modern II-V-I Lines with Simple Pentatonics Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Timothy
  • The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson The Best Embouchure for Tone, Intonation and Endurance Lesson
    Rated 5 out of 5
    by Ray Holland

Footer

Recent Comments

  • Dominique on Otto Link Super Tone Master Florida V Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Felipe on Drake Jerry Bergonzi Master Series Power Resonance 7* Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review
  • Steve on Ted Klum Focustone Standard Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
  • Jeremy on Ted Klum Focustone Standard Model Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece
  • Steve on Les Becs d’Autan Florida Tenor Saxophone Mouthpiece Review

Top rated products

  • Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book) Mastering the Major Bebop Scale & Sound (Digital PDF Book)
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $14.99
  • Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson Tune of the Week-Softly as a Morning Sunrise Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1 The Style of Dexter Gordon-Lady Bird Lesson 1
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson Tune of the Week-Days of Wine and Roses Lesson
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99
  • Tune of the Week-Invitation Tune of the Week-Invitation
    Rated 5.00 out of 5
    $9.99

Product tags

alto sax alto saxophone approach notes audio lesson bebop scale beginner beginner saxophone blues blues licks blues patterns blues scale blues scales diminished scale dominant chords ear training fundamentals II-V-I improvisation jazz improvisation jazz lines jazz patterns jazz sax jazz saxophone jazz standard jazz standards licks Mastering the Blues Scale Michael Brecker modern improv modern improvisation online lesson patterns playing outside practice habits reading music sax basics sax lessons saxophone scales smooth jazz steve neff tenor sax tenor saxophone video lesson video lessons
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • SUPPORT

Neffmusic © 2005–2025