How do you know you love something?

The question came up in my mind the other day: How do you know you love someone/something?

I suppose you go with this whole "Love is mysterious and unexplainable. Love is a many-splendoured thing...etc, etc. " But to me, that has never given me concrete enough evidence to the existence of love, especially because of how subjective it is. Love means different things to everyone, so it is naturally difficult to define.

However, I'm come to realize that for me, love becomes most evident when it's not present. I realize that I love something if I miss it. That goes for people too, of course. If I miss someone, that usually means I hold a high level of this mythical 'love' for them. 

This does, believe it or not, have a point:

I began rehearsals at another Theatre today, and all I realized for a little bit that I missed First Stage. I'm not saying that this new theatre is not wonderful, but it simply is not a place where my heart is. I miss First Stage, the people, the atmosphere, and even all the little dramas and problems. I can't explain why, but at the very least its now evident to me that I love this theatre and everything about it. If I cannot support it directly, then I will at the very least hold it and all its people very dearly in my heart and will hope for nothing but the best from now on.

I miss you all.

I love you all.

~Jon Jon