Late with sihipping

[glorybells]

OK, I guess what I'm looking for here is some wy for me to feel better about handling a problem I created.  I just recently started selling again after a 3 1/2 year abscence.  So then last week, when an auction ends with a buyer, I got pneumonia the same day.  I have a 3 business day handling time, so I thought I'd be OK.  But, no, it came and went.  I'm 100% sure I'm getting it out today (Friday) but I'd like to write the buyer and apologize, but i'm just afraid "I've been realy sick" is going to sound like "the dog ate my homework".  And to make it worse, this is this memebers first purchase here.  Is there any way I can smooth this down and hopefully not have any ruffled feathers?  I feel awful about not getting it out, but I've been sleeping like 22 hours a day and I'm seriously just now feeling like living and breathing again.  Any suggestions?