My 40th birthday I held in an old-age home. My 50th I had at Pravda before it opened in New York. My 60th I had at Pastis. For my 70th, I thought, 'I don't need to have a celebrity party this year. I'm going to go take my oldest, closest friends to Paris.'

In this quote, John Waters, the famous American filmmaker and writer, reflects on the way he has celebrated his significant birthdays over the years, each representing a different phase in his life. Waters begins by describing his 40th birthday, which he spent in an old-age home, a choice that reflects his unconventional and often provocative style. By contrasting that with his 50th celebration at Pravda, a well-known restaurant before its opening, Waters demonstrates how his approach to birthday parties has evolved over time, from eccentric public events to more intimate and personal gatherings.

By the time Waters reached his 60th birthday, he had celebrated at Pastis, a trendy spot in New York, showing a progression towards more sophisticated, yet still public, venues. However, for his 70th, Waters decided to break away from the tradition of hosting lavish celebrity parties. Instead, he made a more personal and reflective choice by taking his oldest, closest friends on a trip to Paris, prioritizing meaningful connections over the superficiality of celebrity culture.

Waters' quote reflects his desire to shift from public displays of celebration to more private and intimate experiences as he matured. The decision to go to Paris with close friends marks a deeper appreciation for relationships and personal fulfillment rather than seeking external validation or fame. This change in how he celebrates his milestones reflects a broader life lesson about the evolving nature of what truly matters as we age.

Ultimately, John Waters' quote speaks to the value of personal connections and the growing importance of meaningful relationships over the course of one’s life. As he matured, he moved away from large public parties and instead embraced more intimate, personal celebrations, suggesting that as we grow older, the quality of experiences and the people we share them with become more important than the spectacle of the event itself.