I’m not sure I ever set foot in a thrift whop before I met Maria, if I did, I don’t recall it. I am not much into clothes, but I always bought my clothes at retail men’s stores, now from the L.L. Bean catalogue. I don’t change my styles much, I don’t change them ever – blue chambray shirts, jeans, chinos.

Maria does not ever buy anything retail, everything she wears comes from thrift shops or second hand clothing stories.

She is transformed when she goes into one, she is eagle-eyed and proficient, she can spot a nice piece of clothing or fabric aisles away. She professionally scans the aisles, spotting a neat fabric, a shirt or skirt she likes. Most of the things she buys will end up in a quilt or potholder, some she will wear.

I stopped buying her retail gifts, she always got ticked off at me when I did.

When we travel now, we always visit thrift shops. I like this world, I feel at home there.  I have entered it with my camera and open eyes and it is special and precious to me,  a culture of very real people,  very real life, much of it surprising. This morning, in Saxton’s River, Vermont, we went into the church thrift shop on Main Street.

The thrift shop workers I know are friendly, open, they agree to have their photos taken, they have lots of stories to tell about who comes in, what they buy.

You can pick up a big paper bag at this church store, and stuff it full of anything in the shop for $3. The store is huge,  as old church basement are huge. This store was well-organized, everything clearly labeled.  A group of locals was manning the desk, greeting visitors, helping customers, eager to talk. There were men and women inside, and most were not  browsing idly, this is where they buy their clothes, dishes, children’s toys and clothes.

Periodically, Maria will come up to me with some colorful fabric she finds, she could not be happier. In the children’s section, five or six kids are buying school clothes, September is not too far away. “Thank God for this place,” her mother tells me, “there are good clothes here, I can’t do a new wardrobe every year. And they grow so fast.”

Her husband has found some work shirts, he is trying them on. I don’t think I ever bought thrift shop clothes for my daughter, we went to malls and Gap kid’s stores.

I don’t buy clothes for myself in thrift shops, there is nothing much for me. I buy handkerchiefs, odd things for my office, glasses and plates (we drop a lot and break them.) Sometimes I buy jewelry or pins for Maria. She is happy in these places, at  home, it is my world now, and I am drawn to photograph the volunteers in thrift shops. A breed, for sure.

I don’t know what thrift shops used to be, but I know what they are now, important sources of clothing and household goods for people who are pressed financially, and for many who simply want to buy things cheaply.  My mother was like Maria in one way, she never bought anything retail.

It makes no sense to Maria to spend a lot of money on new clothes, when there are so many good and interesting ones in thrift shops. And she finds everything she wants and needs. It is a particular mentality, thrift shop people. We got two bags worth of stuff, it cost  $6. I am getting serious about photographing the thrift shop volunteers, they are mostly women, they are open and friendly and full of stories. Their faces are full of life.