Keller @ Large: We Don't Need A Lot Of Snow

BOSTON (CBS) - If you missed it, our WBZ-TV weather team came out with their winter predictions the other day, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who was ecstatic at what they said: "less than half" the snow we got last year, "more snow to rain events," milder-than-average temperatures. "We should be able to avoid abandoning cars for weeks, gigantic snow farms, and 6-inch wide sidewalks."

That sounds great, and I feel better every time I hear Eric Fisher talk about El Nino. But I have a request for Mother Nature – mom, how about no snow this winter?

No, not in the mountains where the ski industry needs it, or the woods where the woodsy crowd enjoys it. Let's have enough snow and cold to keep them happy.

And a couple of fluffy inches on Christmas Eve that vanish by New Year's are always welcome.

But otherwise, why not cut us some slack and skip the snow altogether this year?

Plenty of businesses really need a break.

One friend of mine who runs a local restaurant says the snowpocalypse killed business, and then summer was slow because people didn't want to eat inside. And imagine the boost to outdoor and vacation-reliant business if the kids got out of school well before July 1st for a change?

Besides, we really don't need a lot of snow to experience and enjoy winter around here. Beyond the occasional dusting, snow does nothing to enhance the natural beauty of our area.

That's you I'm talking about, Mother Nature. You overdid it on the powder last year, time to try something new. We can admire you fully while also keeping our feet dry and our backs intact, not to mention our sanity.

This doesn't seem like an unreasonable request, and I'm counting on it being granted. But if it is, take notice, MBTA – there will be no excuses.

Listen to Jon's commentary: