Police say a man living in Germany was shot in the back of his head, but that it took him five years to realize it.

Police said that the 35-year-old man was hit by a .22-caliber bullet in the western town of Herne as he was out in the street partying and drunk on New Year's Eve five years ago.

They say the man recalled receiving a blow to the head, but told them he didn't seek medical assistance at the time.

The bullet did not penetrate the skull, and police say the Polish man only went to see a doctor recently when he felt a lump on the back of his head. An X-ray showed an object under his skin, and doctors operated and found the projectile.

Police say it may have been a stray bullet fired by a reveler in celebration.

This put me in mind of a news story about a young woman who lost her life due to a stray bullet, possibly fired into the air out of celebration, which fell back to the earth and struck her dead.

Every year around the holidays that usually go out or come in with a bang, the awareness of falling bullets killing seems to be quite prominent. That would lead me to conclude that these warnings are going ignored.

Living, breathing, and watching TV in the modern world, most people should be aware that "what goes up, must come down." A bullet shot in the air has the same if not twice the velocity coming back down as it has being shot out of a gun. Why then, when these holidays roll around, do these warnings fall on deaf ears? How many more people have to be accidentally killed in order for this to stop?

This young man in Germany was one of the lucky ones. He actually managed to walk away with a funny story to tell. Most areas that have a ban on any explosives being discharged within city limits, also usually do some kind of fireworks show that you can drive down with the family and view safely. Here in Knoxville we have "Boomsday" to celebrate Labor Day with a pyrotechnic display right over the Tennessee River. We all enjoy the beautiful bright colors and festive sounds and hopefully, no one walks away with a bullet lodged in their head.

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