You know how it is when hard or sad or terrible things are happening and it’s just easier to try and shut down your brain or move to a happier place? This is what I’m doing. I shot this picture of the houses along Buena Vista Park in San Francisco September 2008, almost exactly a month before my mother died. I took myself to San Francisco to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit. I hadn’t spent any time to speak of in this city and I had a great time wandering the streets, studying the neighborhoods and the architecture. I liked riding the train but it was hard to not think about the randomness of earthquakes as we went underground. It was always a relief to emerge and see these houses waiting near the park.