Sabering Champagne - beheading the bottles

Five years ago, my good friend and super-talented coworker Chris was diagnosed with cancer. He lost a kidney to it, but gained a brilliant new perspective on life as he recovered and beat it. Every 6 months since, he has gone in for a screening and been declared clear.

After five years of screenings, Chris has been declared cancer-free and doesn't need to return to the hospital at all, as he has no great risk than anyone else. I was thrilled to celebrate this milestone with Chris, his lovely wife Leslie, their kids and a houseful of wonderful friends.

Like any event they host, something unconventional happened. Tonight, it was the opening of the champagne. Rather than pop a cork, Chris used a little-known but hugely entertaining method: sabering the champagne bottles. Using a large dull blade, and striking the bottle at just the right joint in the glass, the bottle is "cleanly beheaded."

It made for a great toast, and the champagne washed the Cupcake Royales down perfectly.

Congratulations, Chris.