Mr. Mark A. Haugen

Joshua's Ladder Mr. Mark A. Haugen

Joshua Miller walks down Main Street in Spearfish, South Dakota, during one of his twice-a-year visits to town, coming down from his cabin in the Black Hills where he has retreated and lived for 10 years after two life-altering events. A decade previous, his parents and twin brother were killed in a car accident, shortly after Joshua had cancelled the wedding to his high school sweetheart. He sought solace in the Hills with his two dogs and lots of booze. On this particular visit to town, he finds that most of his old best friends have finally thrown in the towel on him and any hopes that he might return to the jovial, fun-loving Joshua of old. This revelation annoys and awakens him. He decides to start over somewhere else. He heads to Florida. In Cocoa Beach his life takes a lively turn. He falls in love with a beautiful astronaut, befriends an elderly Haitian immigrant and two gregarious, gay triathletes. Following a whirlwind romance and engagement, his fiance takes off, literally, and commands a space shuttle mission; during which Joshua and his new buddies are charged with organizing the wedding to be held back in South Dakota. It is back in Spearfish where his old friends meet his new friends. With only a revitalized Joshua as a common denominator, they hit it off well and rejoice that Joshua has finally found the happiness that has eluded him for over a decade. Now, all he needs is for his fiance to arrive. But that's not as easy as it sounds.