But I can tell you that it was brought scarily home to me when I actually tried to envision giving him up (there are powerful outside forces trying to keep us apart) and it was like a knife stabbing me in the throat. I would tear up in public places, like on the bus.
When he's sick, too, as you found out.
Also, when he does or says something especially priceless. The other day, he said in a very serious tone of voice: "I do not know why-- maybe I smell too good--but when I leave the house, all of the bumblebees follow me."