Question for my Friends

I'm going through a learning phase at the moment, and it has prompted me to try to take a look at how I relate to others, and sound out one particular aspect of our relationship in particular. So I need to ask a question of everyone who considers me their friend (and I don't mean that in the LJ sense):

How do you know I care about you? How do you know that I consider you my friend as well? How do you know, in short, that you are someone I love?

I'm not at all saying any of you are wrong to think I care, or wrong to think you are my friend and someone I love. What I'm asking is: What words or actions of mine tell you that I love you? What gives you a sense of the way I feel about you? What lets you see how much you mean to me?

I'd really like to hear from everyone who considers themselves my friends on this, though for once I'm not going to be responding to comments, just listening. If you don't feel comfortable answering publicly, please feel free to email me. I really want to touch base with everyone on this.