OK, I've been meaning to share this one for a while. This goes back close to 20 years... I was completing my Master's degree in computer science and had to "defend" my thesis. This was a 45ish minute presentation of all the complex details of my work in front of a fairly large group of some of the smartest people around who held me graduating in their hands - so pretty nerve wracking. I was i my mid 20's, and my stutter ranged from very severe to moderate, depending on the year. I had done all kinds of speech therapy as a teenager, so had lots of techniques at my disposal. I worked really hard, practiced a ton, used all the techniques I knew and felt ready to give it a go. The day comes and I'm feeling super confident. I dive right in and am just nailing it. Sure, there's a minor block here and there, but nothing significant. I'm feeling great. Pass the 1/2 way point, still cruising along. I finally get to the end and am about to wrap it up and the biggest bock I've had in years hits me. Feels like it lasted minutes (but was obviously much less), eventually I get it out... "Thank you". I made it all the way through a super complicated presentation with barely an issue, then I block on my closing "thank you". Everyone had a really good laugh at that one - and it was very clear they were all laughing with me, not at me.