Proper nouns... I can relate. As the president of NHS in high school (over a decade ago now), I needed to give a speech, induct new members, and transfer my responsibilities to the new president, all in front of a large crowd. The part I dreaded the most, by far, was sequentially calling new members up to the podium. Before the event, I literally had a nervous breakdown complete with terror sobs. I probably wouldn't have even left the house if it weren't for my parents. While practicing alone in my bedroom, there were a few names that I just couldn't say. Practicing in front of other people had an even worse outcome, so I pretty much knew I was going to stutter in front of all these people. The worst part was that I was a closet stutterer and somehow managed to hide it from everyone at school, save one classroom experience in the 6th grade (that's another story) that I had hoped everyone had forgotten about. Miraculously, it ended up going pretty well. I had a few short blocks and blurts on certain names, but I managed to save face. I don't think I've ever felt more relief in my entire life. Full-body tingling and warmth, a beyond-orgasmic sense of elation and freedom... If I've ever experienced nirvana, that would have been the moment. And now I just stutter all the time around everybody (sometimes very badly) and nobody cares. I am no longer a walking thesaurus :)